Bottled just a few days before my visit to the domaine, the 2020 Vin de France Le Vin des Amis was boasting a beautifully aromatic nose, redolent of peppermint, violets and cherries. Medium-bodied, fresh and silky in texture, it's easy and fun to drink. It's all whole-bunch Syrah from a 1.5-hectare vineyard on the flats between the village of Cornas and the river. It is made and aged in concrete.

Not quite as seductively aromatic as the 2020 version, the 2019 Vin de France Le Vin des Amis still boasts great fruit expression. Cassis and black olive notes dominate this medium to full-bodied effort. Quite richly textured and concentrated, it should drink well through at least 2027.

The medium-bodied 2016 Le Vin des Amis is derived from Syrah grown on a flat parcel in the village of Cornas. It offers bright cherry fruit allied to a crisp, firm finish.

Readers on a budget looking for a taste of the style of this benchmark estate need to latch onto a few bottles of the Vin des Amis and C?tes du Rh?ne (although, unfortunately, some retailers gouge consumers for these cuvées). A great vintage, the 2015 Le Vin des Amis should be snatched up by savvy readers. Bottled the first of September, it sports an inky color as well as classic Clape notes of violets, iron, and black and blue fruits. It comes from clay soils and is a bigger, richer and chunkier wine than the C?tes du Rh?ne. It is ideal for drinking over the coming 3-4 years.

While the C?tes du Rh?ne is slightly more structured and serious, the Vin de France 2014 Le Vin des Amis offers incredible upfront charm and gulp-ability. Black olive, smoked meats, plum and assorted dark fruits flow nicely to a plump, rich, rounded, and sexy 2014 that has solid concentration and a great finish. It’s a knockout VDF to enjoy over the coming 3-5 years.