This estate always offers a wonderful selection of Cotes du Rhones and these two include the 2009 Cotes du Rhone Grands Classiques, an inexpensive sleeper of the vintage. It exhibits notes of Provencal herbs, loamy soil and abundant black cherry and berry fruit in its medium to full-bodied personality. With good flavor, texture and pleasure-giving qualities, it can be enjoyed over the next several years. Importer: Total Wine & More, Potomac, MD; tel. (301) 795-1080

Domaine de la Presidente makes some of the finest Cotes du Rhones of the appellation. Not surprisingly, these three cuvees are all top-notch as well as potential sleepers of the vintage. They all possess deep ruby/purple colors, and lots of heady black fruit character mixed with truffle, earth, incense, and plenty of Provencal typicity. The best balanced are the 2007 Cotes du Rhone Grands Classiques and the?2007 Cotes du Rhone-Villages Grands Classiques. They all have 4-5 years of aging potential.Although most of this estate’s production is from their significant holdings in the Cotes du Rhone-Villages appellations (especially Cairanne), they also produce excellent Chateauneuf du Papes.Importer: Total Wine & More, Potomac, MD; tel. (301) 795-1080

No doubt a sleeper of the vintage is the 2006 Cotes du Rhone-Villages Grands Classiques. This wine shows a deep ruby/purple color, sweet cassis and cherry fruit, with some licorice, smoke, herbs, and meatiness. It is quite a tasty, full-throttle Cotes du Rhone that should drink nicely for another 7-8 years. This excellent estate, better known for its bevy of Cotes du Rhones from the village of Cairanne, also turns out very fine Chateauneuf du Papes. I have some 1989s in my cellar that are still drinking beautifully.Importer: Total Wine & More, Potomac, MD 20854, Phone: (301) 795 1080

In 2005 the Cotes du Rhone Grands Classiques is a delicious, fruity, up-front style of Cotes du Rhone that is meant for bistros and brasseries. It provides immediate gratification, with loads of spice, pepper, and black cherry and strawberry fruit. Drink it over the next several years. An excellent estate in Cairanne with wines from that village that are nearly as interesting and complex as their Chateauneuf du Papes, there are usually at least three cuvees of Cairanne – Galifay, Partides, and Grands Classiques – all noteworthy.Importer: Total Wine & More, Potomac, MD 20854, Phone: (301) 795 1080

The 2004 Cotes du Rhone Grands Classiques showed deep berry fruit, earth, licorice, and spice box. Importer: Vignobles Select, Laurel, MD; tel. (301) 362-4398