The 2006 Ventoux la Quintessence is another beauty that's firing on all cylinders today. A complete, elegant wine that shows its Syrah backbone front and center, it yields impressive notes of olive, menthol, spice and darker, peppery fruit in an elegant, medium to full-bodied style. Coming up on ten years of age, it puts many northern Rhone Syrahs to shame.

Pesquie’s top cuvee, the 2006 Quintessence Rouge, is made from the estate’s oldest Syrah (80%) and Grenache (20%) vines, spends 12 months in French oak, and is bottled unfined and unfiltered. This beauty boasts a dense ruby/purple hue along with abundant aromas of blackberries, charcoal, cassis, and forest floor. The sweetness of the tannins, purity, full-bodied mouthfeel, and richness are impressive. It should drink nicely for 4-5 years. One of the Cotes du Ventoux’s top estates, Chateau Pesquie has released a number of top-notch, value-priced wines into the American market.Importer: Eric Solomon, European Cellars, Charlotte, NC; tel. (704) 358-1565