A stunning value, the dense ruby/purple-tinged 2004 Cotes du Rhone Cuvee Romaine is a 7,000-case blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah. Its big, sweet bouquet of licorice, garrigue, kirsch liqueur, and black fruits is followed by a dense, opulent, medium to full-bodied, supple, luscious wine to enjoy over the next several years. This is a very special wine!Readers need to be careful buying these wines as there are multiple cuvees and significant differences in the quality. The best cuvees are all made by the famed southern Rhone oenologist Philippe Cambie and represented in the United States by importer European Selections (Eric Solomon). These wines (*) are custom cuvees bottled unfined and unfiltered for Solomon. They are different from bottlings sold elsewhere in the world. Solomon believes in getting the wines in the bottle much earlier than the proprietor, and I tend to agree.Importer: Eric Solomon, European Cellars, Charlotte, NC; tel. (704) 358-1565