I am convinced that most Americans have not yet discovered how profound a dry, full-bodied rose from Bandol or Tavel can be. Even though I drink oceans of them in southern France, I rarely write about them because the double whammy of high prices in France, plus our weak currency, makes them prohibitively priced on this side of the Atlantic. Lafond is one of the best Tavel domaines, and at $10 a bottle, this wine is a bargain for a Tavel. What this dry rose provides is a surprisingly full-bodied, richly flavored wine with huge quantities of fruit, a dry finish, and gobs of personality. It is a rose that can stand up to spicy as well as robust dishes, or be drunk for its freshness and wonderful fruitiness as an aperitif. Consume it over the next 1-2 years. Importer: An Alain Junguenet Selection, Wines of France, Mountainside, NJ.