The inky/purple-colored 2010 Cotes du Rhone Les Deux Albion represents fabulous value. Offering up lovely notes of marmalade, honeysuckle, white peaches, cassis and black cherries, this full-bodied, luscious, supple-textured 2010 will offer beautiful drinking now and over the next 2-3 years. Louis Barruol has been at the top of his game since the late 1990s, and over the last few vintages, he has been making some of the finest wines in the southern Rhone as well as France. The glories here are Barruol’s single vineyard/special cuvees of Gigondas, but consumers should not overlook the terrific value offered by his Cotes du Rhones. The wines are sold under two monikers, Chateau Saint-Cosme and simply Saint-Cosme (his negociant line-up). Barroul produces a small quantity of Chateauneuf du Pape that is usually about 50% Grenache, 30% Mourvedre, 10% Cinsault and 10% Syrah

RP 90