A good C?tes du Rh?ne (especially in the vintage), the 2013 Vieilles Vignes Les Garrigues is made from 100% Grenache, completely destemmed, and aged in equal parts barrique and concrete tank. Possessing excellent minerality, as well as plenty of dark fruit, charcoal, graphite and ground herbs, it has medium-bodied richness, good fruit and a delicious, very drinkable style. It will impress for 4-6 years.

Even better, the 2012 Cotes du Rhone Vieilles Vignes Les Garrigues (100% Grenache) is a classic Southern Rhone with big, luscious blackberry and cassis fruit, ground pepper, herbs and background meatiness. This medium to full-bodied, rich and hedonistically styled effort will drink nicely for 4-5 years and should not be missed. Drink now-2018. Baptiste Grangeon continues to produce a terrific lineup of wines, both in Chateauneuf du Pape and with his Cotes du Rhone negociant labels. While they can release three Chateauneufs in top vintages (a tradition cuvee, a Cuvee Renaissance which incorporates a heft chunk of Mourvedre and sees barrel aging, and a Grenache-dominated Vieilles Vignes that’s aged in older wood and tank), they only produced a single cuvee in 2011 and did not produce a cuvee Renaissance in 2012. Importers: Wine Warehouse, Los Angeles, CA; tel. (800) 331-2829; Galaxy Wine Co., Portland, OR; tel. (503) 248-9493; George Molitor, Fine Vines, LLC, Melrose Park, IL; tel. (708) 343-6702; David Bowler Wine (212) 807-1680; ABC Fine Wines and Spirits, Orlando, FL; tel. (407) 851-0000

The best of the group is the 2009 Cotes du Rhones Les Garrigues Vieilles Vignes, 100% Grenache from 50-year-old vines, aged half in cement and half in small barrels. A classic heady, peppery, spicy, seriously endowed Cotes du Rhone, with medium to full body and loads of kirsch, it is a lot of wine for the modest price. I don’t think anyone would disagree that young proprietors Dominique and Baptiste Grangeon are among the up-and-coming stars in Chateauneuf du Pape. This is another biodynamically farmed vineyard, and the Grangeons have been on fire qualitatively for the last five to six years. The 2007s were probably the strongest vintage overall that I have tasted from them, but 2005 was also brilliant at Cristia, and 2009 looks exceptionally strong as well. Cristia also turns out very fine Cotes du Rhones that sell for a song, and the 2009s are all in bottle. Importers: Wine Warehouse, Los Angeles, CA; tel. (800) 331-2829; Galaxy Wine Co., Portland, OR; tel. (503) 248-9493; George Molitor, Fine Vines, LLC, Melrose Park, IL; tel. (708) 343-6702; Wine Symphony, New York NY; tel. (212) 226-8283; ABC Fine Wines and Spirits, Orlando, FL; tel. (407) 851-0000