A step up over both the Cotes du Rhone and the Cotes du Rhone Village releases, the 2011 Cotes du Rhone Village Domaine de La Vieille Fontaine (80% Grenache, 15% Syrah and 5% Mourvedre) is a single vineyard release that was aged all in tank and foudre. Offering up impressive notes of plum, blackberry, underbrush and earth, with some nutty nuances coming through with air, this medium+-bodied effort has loads of texture, good tannin and a clean, dry finish that keeps you coming back to the glass. Enjoy it over the coming 5-6 years. Owned by the Guigal team, with the wines made by Guy Sarton-de-Joncquey, Vidal Fleury produces a wealth of high quality releases, most of which represent fantastic values. In addition to the northern and southern Rhone releases reviewed here, readers should also look at Issue 209 for the remainder of the southern Rhone efforts.