2012 Domaine Amido, Signargues Cotes du Rhone Village, Rhone Red France.
Without question Domaine Amido makes some of the best bargain wines from the Rhone, and this new release is a wonderful and pure example of just how good a cheap Cotes du Rhone can be, Kudos to Charles Neal, again, for finding Domaine Amido and importing these fine offerings to the States. The 2012 Signargues Cotes du Rhone Villages is deep purple and garnet with a lovely array of floral, fruit and spice layers with classic Grenache headiness and hedonistic pleasure. The nose starts with grenadine, violets, lavender oil and pepper leading to a fresh and vibrant palate of boysenberry, strawberry and plum fruits along with loamy earth, peppery spice, chalky mineral and anise notes. This young red is made to be enjoyed in it’s youth and it can be, and then some, what a steal this little beauty is, track it down and grab a few cases for easy drinking over the next year or so.
($12 Est.) 90 Points, grapelive
Avail at www.sfwtc.com ($10.95)