Even better, and a real sleeper of the vintage, is the 2009 Cotes du Rhone Belleruche red. Dominated by 80% Grenache, with the rest Syrah and Mourvedre, this wine has a deep ruby/purple-tinged color to the rim, a big, spicy, peppery, kirsch-scented nose, and medium-bodied, juicy flavors, with intriguing minerality and loads of fruit and texture. This is a very serious Cotes du Rhone that should drink nicely for 3-4 years. (To Chapoutier’s credit, this is made completely from contracted biodynamically farmed vineyards, as opposed to buying fermented juice from growers.) Michel Chapoutier remains one of the world’s leading advocates for minimally handled, natural wine from biodynamically farmed vineyards, with SO2 levels kept as low as possible. Of course, his glories, for the most part, are from his family’s holdings in the northern Rhone, and I will have more on them in an upcoming issue. (But a teaser – Chapoutier claims 2009 is the greatest vintage of his lifetime.) He continues to produce a strong group of white and red wines from the southern Rhone, with significant vineyard holdings in Chateauneuf du Pape. Importer: Paterno Imports, Lake Bluff, IL; tel. (847) 604-8900

Chapoutier 2009 年的 Belleruche 紅葡萄酒是一款極為成功的佳釀。散發(fā)著極為成熟的黑色櫻桃味，并伴有微微的巧克力和雪松味，口感豐滿，質(zhì)地豐富。適飲期：未來數(shù)年內(nèi)。評分：89。