Moving to the 2012s, the straight 2012 Cotes du Rhone Villages Visan looks excellent with its peppery, floral, dark fruit and underbrush-driven bouquet. Fresh, medium-bodied and elegant, it has smoking purity and juicy acidity. Drink it over the coming 5-6 years. These are all classy, beautifully made efforts that are worth seeking out.

Coming from the northern part of the southern Rhone, the 2011 Cotes du Rhone Villages Visan is a deliciously polished, textured effort that offers up plenty of sweet blackberry, raspberry, bouquet garni and garrigue on the nose. This is followed by a medium-bodied, textured and balanced wine that will drink nicely for 4-5 years. These are all classy, beautifully made efforts that are worth seeking out.

Delicate candied nose, red fruits. Sleek and silky, concentrated, and plenty of juicy fruit backed by some structure.