2011 Domaine Amido, Lirac AC, Rhone Red, France.
This fresh young Rhone red is super easy to love and very tasty with smooth rich fruit and is nicely balanced. Domaine Amido is new to me, imported by Charles Neal, who is on roll lately with some amazing small producers that are offering real interesting wines at great prices, and this Lirac, a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre is a steal. For sheer pleasure and easy drinking this wine is a big winner with lush red fruits, stoney notes and peppery spices leading the charge on the palate with layers of raspberry, plum, dried currants, pomegranate, strawberry and zesty red citrus notes. A whiff of lavender, wild flowers and savory spices add interest, and I’m sure a subtle earthiness will emerge, but I enjoy the fresh clean flavors it shows now, and at this price I am sure I’ll be getting more than a few bottles myself. This is a very nice and fun wine, not overly serious or thick, but a bistro style wine to just open and relax with, no pretense here, just a joyful wine.
($15 Est.) 90+ Points, grapelive
