Another superb effort from Lesec, the Patrick Lesec 2012 Cotes du Rhone Villages Beaumes de Venise Suzon is a blend of close to equal parts Grenache and Syrah that-s fermented with some whole-cluster and aged in barrel. It shows outstanding potential with terrific aromas and flavors of black raspberry, licorice, ground herbs and pepper. Medium-bodied, with fresh, focusing acidity and an overall delicious feel, it should be consumed over the coming 5-6 years. Drink now-2020. This is a stacked lineup of wines by Patrick Lesec. Across the board the wines shows superbly made profiles and loads of character. Importer: Chemin des Vins, Sherborn, MA; tel. (508) 545-1532, who distributes to wholesalers in 20 different states. Readers are advised to call them for availability in their region.

A sleeper of the vintage, the 2011 Cotes du Rhone-Villages Beaumes de Venise Suzon (another blend of equal parts Grenache and Syrah) is a full-bodied, rich, fruity wine that was aged in tank (80%) and barrel (20% of the Syrah). Its deep ruby/purple hue is followed by abundant notes of cassis, blackberries, charcoal and camphor. Drink this beauty over the next 5-6 years. (Not yet released) As I wrote last year, Patrick Lesec seems to be narrowing his portfolio of southern Rhone wines, focusing primarily on Cotes du Rhones, Chateauneuf du Papes and Gigondas, three areas where he excels in fashioning very good to outstanding cuvees that he sells at realistic prices. Importer: Chemin des Vins, Sherborn, MA; tel. (508) 545-1532, who distributes to wholesalers in 20 different states. Readers are advised to call them for availability in their region.

Another sleeper of the vintage, the 2007 Cotes du Rhone-Villages Beaumes de Venise Suzon is a Provencal fruit bomb. A blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah, it reveals a deep ruby/purple hue along with full-bodied aromas of camphor, licorice, black currants, lavender, and pepper. This fleshy, richly fruity, savory red fills the mouth and is teeth-staining in its extract and richness. Fortunately, there is not a hard edge to be found, so it should drink well for 5-6 years. The stars in Patrick Lesec’s porfolio are the superb Chateauneuf du Pape cuvees he fashions, but there are also some stunning bargains for shrewd consumers. By the way, Lesec chose not to produce any Chateauneuf du Papes or Gigondas in 2008. Importer: Chemin des Vins, Sherborn, MA; tel. (508) 545-1532, who distributes to wholesalers in 20 different states. Readers are advised to call them for availability in their region.