Terres d’Avignon Cardinalices Cotes du Rhône 2007 ($10)

Dipping down into serious bargain territory, the Terres d’Avignon Cardinalices 2007 ($10) doesn’t come close to the complexity and interest of yesterday’s featured Rhône wine, the Mas des Bressades Cuvée Excellence, but it’s still a good option if you’re on a budget. The nose has some cinnamon bread and dark fruit aromas, while the tasting unearthed a tannic punch of cassis, freshly ploughed farm soil (a little crazy, I know, but that’s what I smelled) and spice. It’s not perfectly balanced and it’s quite a rustic Rhône at 14% alcohol, so I’d pair this up with some hearty meat dishes. Overall, not a bad value for $10.

Quaffability Rating: 87