2002 Roc d'Anglade Rouge

Region: Nimes, Languedoc, France

Composition: 25% Grenache, 25% Carignane, 50% Syrah

Background: Remy Pedreno used to be in the computer industry, but left in the 1990s to go into the wine business, setting up shop a little west of Nimes (based on what I am drinking lately I am starting to think everyone is making wine a little west of Nimes). For Roc d'Anglade he teamed up with Rene Rostaing, a well-regarded winemaker of the Cote Rotie... Pedreno supplied his grapes and money, and Rostaing provided the know-how and his winemaking ability. They made the first vintage in 1999, using grapes from a tiny vineyard not quite 12 acres big. The wine is aged for about 18 months in oak (one third of it new, one third one year old, one third two years old).

This is the kind of wine, that if it were from the Rhone, would be twice the price (at least). It's pretty solid, and the only thing that will cause you any pain will be getting your hands on a bottle, since it is such small production and not easy to find. If you can find a bottle, though, it is a great example of some of the exciting stuff going on in the Languedoc these days.

Notes: A beautiful, deep cherry red in the glass, this has a goregous nose on it full of strawberries (it has what I think of as "hot funk" to it, that scent of ripe fruit on the vine on a hot summer day) and roses, and has a little spice. It's fairly lush on the palate but also very restrained and elegant, and has enough acid to carry the fruit. The tannins are soft and full and add interest, and the finish has some nice spice in it but it is not overwhelming in any way. Overall it is a very rich wine, but not overdone. Beautifully balanced. And living proof that I don't hate everything with Carignane in it!

Cost: $35

Overall: A