The 2003 Syrah (Rose) Vin de Pays d’Oc explodes from the glass with candied black raspberry and black cherry aromas. Crammed with considerable fruit, this boisterous wine bastes the taster’s palate with fresh waves of super-ripe cherries, raspberries, and blackberries. There isn’t an ounce of complexity to this excellent rose, yet tons of decadent, hedonistic pleasure. Its lush, suave personality extends into a lingering finish that leaves behind a sweet kiss of kirsch. Drink it over the next 6-9 months. Having recently been upgraded to business class on a transatlantic flight where I’d been served tired, drying out whites from Beaune and Pernand-Vergelesses, I wrote in my tasting notes, “wouldn’t joyful wines like these be more appropriate to serve on airlines?”Always an innovator in packaging (the flower-adorned labels of his Beaujolais bottles caused quite a stir when first unveiled), Duboeuf is once again going out on a limb, unveiling a line of “New Generation” labels for his “Reserve” wines from the south. Encased in highly-colorful thin plastic jackets, the wines are not “l(fā)abeled”, they’re turned into brightly showy art work. Duboeuf’s marketing studies have indicated that this packaging appeals significantly to young buyers.Importer: William Deutsch and Sons, White Plains, NY; tel. (914) 251-9463; and Winesellers, Ltd., Skokie, IL; tel. (847) 679-0121

Duboeuf's new releases, which are now appearing, are the 1992s. On paper, 1992 is inferior to 1991. But Duboeuf's stricter selection process, combined with lower prices have made his wines winners again! If retailers, restaurants, and wine writers want to increase consumption of wine in America, one of the best places to start is to encourage consumption of Duboeuf's wines. For the level of quality and pleasure they provide, they are not just good values, they are cheap!Among Duboeuf's Vin de Pays (VDP) offerings from the viticultural area known as d'Oc, there is a fragrant, intensely fruity, refreshing, dry 1992 Syrah Rose. At $5 a bottle, this is a wine readers should be buying by the case and consuming before Thanksgiving, 1993. Displaying more body than most roses, Duboeuf is clearly aiming for a Tavel-like style of rose. Duboeuf prefers Syrah because he claims it gives additional fragrance. You can be sure I will be gulping some of this delicious rose down over the summer.Importers: William Deutsch and Sons, Chappaqua, NY and Wine Sellers, Skokie, IL.

The bouquet of the 1991 Syrah Rose soars from the glass, offering aromas of ripe raspberries. It is a beautifully clean and pure, exuberant rose for drinking as an aperitif or with light courses. It should be consumed before Duboeuf releases his 1992s - in about twelve months. If you are looking for a terrific wine bargain that is a beautifully made, lively wine, check this out.Leave it to the "King of Beaujolais" to travel outside of his kingdom to fashion an immensely tasty, pleasure-giving, vividly fresh wine that sells at bargain prices. The King of Beaujolais should have a second title bestowed - the Master of Purse Pleasing Pleasure.Importers: William A. Deutsch and Sons, Ltd., Chappaque, NY and Wine Sellers, Skokie, IL.