2008 Coudoulet de Beaucastel

"It's impossible to argue that 2007 is not a great vintage," said Marc Perrin. "It has to be considered one of the greatest in modern times." Perrin noted that the Indian summer of '07 (like '09, by the way) ensured fully mature mourvedre, "which enhanced the lushness of the grenache." He also noted that the tannins of the '07s "are very fine and in harmony with the fruit, and don't show the hardness that we see in the 2005s." Incidentally, the Perrin family is now the owner of the cozy restaurant L'Oustalet, in the heart of the tiny, picturesque village of Gigondas, and they have already begun assembling an impressive and sometimes very reasonably priced wine list. This is great news for visitors to the region who have been compelled to make a drive to Avignon for a special meal after exhausting the handful of fine-dining options available in the immediate area. (Vineyard Brands, Birmingham, AL)