91 Points | International Wine Cellar , May/June 2011

($23; includes 4% malbec, along with bits of grenache, mourvedre, tempranillo and viognier) Dark purple. Spicy, intensely fragrant nose features black raspberry, cola and violet, highlighted by hints of smoke and black olive. Smells a lot like a wine from the northern Rhone and a good one at that. Sappy and chewy but surprisingly lithe; the dark berry preserve and bitter chocolate flavors are at once taut and rich, thanks to enlivening minerality. Finishes with silky tannins and lingering smokiness. I really like this wine's energy and clarity. (Wine Markets International, Woodbury, NY)

91+ Points | Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate