A sleeper of the vintage, the 2008 Cotes du Rhone is one of the finest Cotes du Rhones of the vintage. Exhibiting loads of strawberry and kirsch fruit intertwined with licorice, bouquet garni and sandy, loamy soil notes, it should drink nicely for 3-4 years. At his home estate, Emmanuel Reynaud (who has been producing the Rayas wines since 1997) has nearly 100 acres of vineyards from which he makes a wonderful array of value-priced reds and whites.Importer: Martine’s Wines, Novato, CA; tel. (415) 883-0400