The 2015 C?tes du Rh?ne Villages is no exceptions and offers medium to full-bodied richness, lots of black fruits, peppery herbs, charcoal and licorice aromas and flavors, and a chewy, full bore texture. Made from 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre, it will drink well for 6-7 years and is a serious 2015.

A wine that always over delivers is the 2014 C?tes du Rh?ne Villages. A blend of 50% Grenache, 25% Mourvèdre, 20% Syrah and 5% Carignan, it offers classic, mulled dark fruits, toasted spice, earth and some background meatiness to go with a medium-bodied, mouth-filling, fruit forward style on the palate. It will be hard to resist over the coming 3-4 years.

Always a solid wine, the 2013 C?tes du Rh?ne Villages has plenty of truffle, underbrush and black fruits to go with a medium to full-bodied, firm-structured profile on the palate. Made from 50% Grenache, 25% Mourvedre, 20% Syrah and a splash of Carignan that saw both concrete tank and barrel aging, it will have upward of a decade of longevity.

Also a rock-solid, value-priced offering, the 2012 Cotes du Rhone Villages (50% Grenache, and the rest Syrah, Mourvedre and Carignan aged in a combination of barrel and concrete tank) has a big, rich and concentrated profile, with plenty of licorice, graphite and mulled berry fruit on both the nose and palate. Medium to full-bodied, rich and layered, it’s potentially outstanding and will deliver loads of pleasure over the coming 4-5 years. Drink now-2018. Run by the brother and sister team of Daniel and Christine Chaussy, this brilliant estate covers just over 20 acres in Chateauneuf du Pape, most of which are in the northern part. They produce up to three Chateauneufs in top vintages and one white. In addition, their Vin de France and Cotes du Rhone Villages are always superb and sell for a song. Note: there was no Cuvee du Quet or le Tinto produced in 2011, and no Tinto in 2012. Importer: Alain Junguenet, Wines of France, Mountainside, NJ; tel. (908) 654-6173

Not surprisingly, the Chaussys have made a brilliant 2011 Cotes du Rhone-Villages. A sleeper of the vintage, it boasts abundant aromas of kirsch, raspberries, incense and Christmas fruitcake. Drink this elegant, pure 2011 over the next several years. This tiny 22-acre estate situated in the northern tier of Chateauneuf du Pape was founded in 1950, but has been brought to brilliance by Chaussy family over the last decade. Daniel Chaussy deserves enormous credit for introducing the spectacular Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee du Quet as well as the Chateauneuf du Pape Le Tintot, which is 100% Mourvedre. Both the 2007 and 2010 Cuvee du Quet have garnered perfect scores, and the latter wine may be the wine of the vintage. Sadly, only 5,000 bottles are produced of this extraordinary blend of 80% Grenache (aged in neutral tanks) and 20% Mourvedre (aged in small oak casks). Importer: Alain Junguenet, Wines of France, Mountainside, NJ; tel. (908) 654-6173