1998 Domaine Clavel ‘Les Garrigues,’ Co^teaux du Languedoc, Southern France
Pierre Clavel’s blend of Syrah and Grenache Noir give this rustic Co^teaux du Languedoc its gorgeous ruby red color. Earthy in the best sense, its taste of wild, wind-swept hills, sun-saturated herbs and dark concentrated berries immediately identify it as a southern French wine. Another bottle to show that the French have finally come around to making good, and often great, wines far from the fabled vineyards of Burgundy and Bordeaux. Not that you’d know this from the choice of wines on most French wine lists.
The producer deserves a lot of credit for turning out a wine of this quality at this price. In warm weather, chill it down.
About $10. Available at fine wine stores.