The black-colored 1996 Cotes du Rhone-Villages Cairanne Old Vines is impressive. Produced from 100% old vine Grenache, and aged 15 months in 100% new oak casks, this wine reveals little evidence of wood! It exhibits a gorgeous, exotic nose of blackberries intermixed with Asian spices, smoked olives, roasted meats, and pure cherry jam. Rich, unctuously-textured, thick, and full-bodied, this opulent wine displays none of the tell-tale pain grille, vanillin of new oak casks - that's how rich and concentrated it is. This low acid, spectacularly-layered wine is undoubtedly one of the finest Cairannes I have ever tasted. It should drink well for 10-15 years. Importers: Bacchus Importers, tel. (410) 633-0400, Stacole Imports, Boca Raton, FL; tel. (561) 998-0029; Martin Scott Wines Ltd., Little Neck, NY; Ventures in Wine, Daly City, CA; Atlantic Importing Co., Newton, MA; Fine Vines, Maywood, IL and all the importers representing the selections of French broker, Patrick Lesec (Paris fax # 011 33 1 44 70 62 93)

The black-colored 1996 Cotes du Rhone-Villages Cairanne Old Vines is impressive. Produced from 100% old vine Grenache, and aged 15 months in 100% new oak casks, this wine reveals little evidence of wood! It exhibits a gorgeous, exotic nose of blackberries intermixed with Asian spices, smoked olives, roasted meats, and pure cherry jam. Rich, unctuously-textured, thick, and full-bodied, this opulent wine displays none of the tell-tale pain grille, vanillin of new oak casks - that's how rich and concentrated it is. This low acid, spectacularly-layered wine is undoubtedly one of the finest Cairannes I have ever tasted. It should drink well for 10-15 years. Importers: Bacchus Importers, tel. (410) 633-0400, Stacole Imports, Boca Raton, FL; tel. (561) 998-0029; Martin Scott Wines Ltd., Little Neck, NY; Ventures in Wine, Daly City, CA; Atlantic Importing Co., Newton, MA; Fine Vines, Maywood, IL and all the importers representing the selections of French broker, Patrick Lesec (Paris fax # 011 33 1 44 70 62 93)