The 2007 Cotes du Rhone Pigonniere is a blend of 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah. It is a delicious, straightforward, consumer-friendly red that should have broad appeal. Vidal Fleury is undergoing a dramatic metamorphosis. A new state of the art winery has been constructed below the slopes of Cote Rotie’s Cote Blonde, and a new winemaker has been brought in to revamp these somewhat rustic wines. I think we will see earlier bottling as well as more attention to detail.Importer: William Deutsch and Sons, White Plains, NY; tel. (914) 251-WINE

The brilliant 2005 Cotes du Rhone Pigonniere is a blend of 55% Grenache and the rest Syrah. This is a real sleeper of the vintage. Deep, full bodied, with notes of road tar, blackberry, and cherry as well as some licorice and truffle, it is a sumptuous style of Cotes du Rhone to drink over the next 3-4 years. I predict things will become dramatically better at Vidal Fleury as their new winery is being constructed just to the south of Ampuis, and the proprietor, Marcel Guigal, and his son Philippe are intent on getting this firm back into the top echelon of producers in the Rhone Valley. The wines always tend to be released somewhat later than other wineries with the exception of the whites.Importer: William Deutsch and Sons, White Plains, NY; tel. (914) 251-WINE