The 2010 Cotes du Rhone-Villages Cairanne possesses a denser purple color as well as sweeter black and blue fruits, sassafras and earthy characteristics. (Not yet released)My visit to the impressive, modern facilities at Vidal-Fleury in the Cote Blonde sector of Cote Rotie went well as I believe this is an up-and-coming producer. Owners Marcel and Philippe Guigal and the estate’s director, Guy Sarton de Jonchay, are instituting an earlier bottling, resulting in more freshness and lively fruit in the wines.Importer: William Deutsch and Sons, White Plains, NY; tel. (914) 251-WINE

The 2009 Cotes du Rhone-Villages Cairanne exhibits aromas and flavors of black cherries, garrigue and earth along with solid tannins and a medium-bodied, dry finish. My visit to the impressive, modern facilities at Vidal-Fleury in the Cote Blonde sector of Cote Rotie went well as I believe this is an up-and-coming producer. Owners Marcel and Philippe Guigal and the estate’s director, Guy Sarton de Jonchay, are instituting an earlier bottling, resulting in more freshness and lively fruit in the wines.Importer: William Deutsch and Sons, White Plains, NY; tel. (914) 251-WINE

Anyone who has visited the Cote Rotie recently probably couldn't help but notice the extraordinary new winemaking facility of Vidal-Fleury, situated at the foot of some of the finest Cote Rotie vineyards on the Cote Blonde. Guigal, who has owned Vidal-Fleury for 26 years, seems to have finally gotten this firm where the quality of the wines is first and foremost. Of course, the Maison Vidal-Fleury is one of the oldest in the entire Rhone Valley, with its history dating back to 1781. It was first located at the entrance to the little one-horse village of Ampuis, and the historic building is still there. Most of the wines are negociant blends, including the southern Rhone wines. With their new facility and a complete make-over of the winemaking team, quality has jumped significantly, and this is now clearly a negociant to keep an eye on for both quality and value. Much of this is to the credit of father and son Marcel and Philippe Guigal as well as the new Director General of Maison Vidal-Fleury, Guy Sarton de Jonchay.Importer: William Deutsch and Sons, White Plains, NY; tel. (914) 251-WINE

A reasonably good value from Vidal-Fleury is the 1996 Cotes du Rhone-Villages Cairanne, a spicy, cherry, peppery wine with medium body, notes of dried herbes de Provence, and a clean, spicy, quick finish. Drink it over the next 1-2 years.Importer: William Deutsch & Co., White Plains, NY; tel. (914) 251-WINE