Domaine Paul Autard Red Rhone Blend Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée la Cote Ronde 2003

Whew - what a long-winded title for a Grenache-based field blend! The quintessential red blend, this elegant yet powerful wine is no muddy puddle of grapes. Stylistically, I am reminded of Ridge winery's Zinfandel blends; like Zinfandel, Grenache provides heady liqueur aspects, while the leading minor players - Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault - season the base with black spice, fresh herbs, and mineral. Densely packed with sultry dark cherry fruit, this Autard is delicious now, but firm tannins suggest aging may reward. Honestly, these are the greatest all-round wines in the world... hmmm... I think I'll change my name to Paula Autard.

The 1999 Châteauneuf-du-Pape la Cote Ronde exhibits aromas of smoked Provençal herbs, black cherry an berry fruit, an unctuous texture, and a lush, complex, medium to full-bodied style with notes of mincemeat. With outstanding concentration and purity as well as an upfront style, it should be drunk over the next 12-14 years.

The 1999 Chacirc;teauneuf-du-Pape la Cote Ronde exhibits aromas of smoked Provenccedil;al herbs, black cherry an berry fruit, an unctuous texture, and a lush, complex, medium to full-bodied style with notes of mincemeat. With outstanding concentration and purity as well as an upfront style, it should be drunk over the next 12ndash;14 years.

Whew mdash; what a long-winded title for a Grenache-based field blend! The quintessential red blend, this elegant yet powerful wine is no muddy puddle of grapes. Stylistically, I am reminded of Ridge wineryrsquo;s Zinfandel blends; like Zinfandel, Grenache provides heady liqueur aspects, while the leading minor players mdash; Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault mdash; season the base with black spice, fresh herbs, and mineral. Densely packed with sultry dark cherry fruit, this Autard is delicious now, but firm tannins suggest aging may reward. Honestly, these are the greatest all-round wines in the worldhellip; hmmmhellip; I think Irsquo;ll change my name to Paula Autard.

The outstanding 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape La Cote Ronde has the oak well-concealed beneath a cascade of black fruits. An equal part blend of Grenache and Syrah from 60-year-old vines (with the Syrah enjoying malolactic fermentation in barrel and aging in new oak), this wine displays plenty of licorice, creme de cassis, blackberry, subtle spice and a heady dosage of Provencal herbs in a full-bodied, thick, juicy style that never loses its place of origin despite the modern oak treatment. Full-bodied and powerful, it comes close to rivaling the best La Cote Ronde I have tasted to date, the 2007. It will be best drunk over the next 10ndash;15 years.