Mas des Bressades Cuvée Excellence Cotieres de Nimes 2007 ($15)

This well-respected winery is known for producing top-value Viognier-based white wines. While I haven’t tried their whites, I’m surprised more people aren’t talking about this red, the Cuvée Excellence. It really is excellent. The Syrah-based Mas des Bressades Cuvée Excellence ($15), from the western side of the Rhône Valley in France, is the color of dark cherries. On the nose, there’s star anise, cloves, chocolate sauce and blackberries. The first sip of the wine surprised me in its complexity. I was expecting fruit with hints of other flavors, but instead, I was treated to a fascinating mix of black olives, bitter chocolate, spices and some dark fruit mixed in there to round out the rest of the rich flavours. The tasting experience is capped off with a very long and satisfying finish.

Quaffability Rating: 90