The basic cuvee, the 2006 Chateauneuf du Pape Tradition, reveals notes of sweet cherries, herbs, spice, and balsam wood. This medium-bodied offering is best consumed during its first 4-5 years of life. Burgundy wine broker Alain Corcia ventures into the southern Rhone to purchase wine which he then raises in old oak foudres and smaller barriques, and bottles them under assorted names. Some of the cuvees see 30% new oak, but Corcia’s overall philosophy is to keep the wood as a background element to the fruit, which is dominated by Grenache (60-70%) with the rest Syrah and occasionally Mourvedre. The 2006s are charming efforts displaying the vintage’s up-front, forward fruit, but not the structure, weight, or density of the 2005s. An Alain Corcia Selection, various American importers, including Premier Wines, CA; tel. (510) 237-6284, and Calvert Woodley Wines, Washington, DC; tel. (202) 966-4400

The basic cuvee, the 2006 Chateauneuf du Pape Tradition, reveals notes of sweet cherries, herbs, spice, and balsam wood. This medium-bodied offering is best consumed during its first 4-5 years of life. Burgundy wine broker Alain Corcia ventures into the southern Rhone to purchase wine which he then raises in old oak foudres and smaller barriques, and bottles them under assorted names. Some of the cuvees see 30% new oak, but Corcia’s overall philosophy is to keep the wood as a background element to the fruit, which is dominated by Grenache (60-70%) with the rest Syrah and occasionally Mourvedre. The 2006s are charming efforts displaying the vintage’s up-front, forward fruit, but not the structure, weight, or density of the 2005s.An Alain Corcia Selection, various American importers, including Premier Wines, CA; tel. (510) 237-6284, and Calvert Woodley Wines, Washington, DC; tel. (202) 966-4400