Chateau De Montmirail Vacqueyras

The licorice and dark fruit notes blend perfectly with the pepper, making this a bold but smooth Côtes du Rhône that really opens up after an hour. I’ve been buying reds in this category for a while, and this one stands out for its depth without being too heavy.

The black pepper hits your nose right after pouring, and the dark fruit follows up on the palate smoothly. Perfect with a hearty stew for a cold evening.

That licorice note really comes through on the finish, and the dark fruit and black pepper make it a solid pick for a weeknight dinner. Opened a bottle with roasted lamb and it held up beautifully without being too heavy.