2019 Côtes du Rhône Villages Le Bouquet des Garrigues, Clos du Caillou

Composed of grenache, syrah and mourvedre, Caillou's Bouquet des Garriques is one of the best value Rhone wines I have ever encountered. Over decades of tasting and enjoying a range of vintages it simply never disappoints. Created within the heart of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, it surpasses many other growers' star releases yet is offered here for a relative song. Spiced black cherry and dark chocolate notions meet with a firm structural core and bright freshness. A wine to hold for a few years, it will blossom wonderfully. This 2019 is a particular success for the estate and is highly recommended.

Under talented wine maker Bruno Gaspard and the Vacheron family, Clos du Caillou has established itself as one of the finest producers in the Rhône, creating exceptionally well-balanced wines with their signature, velvety tannins. From the very beginning of his tenure as the worlds most famed wine critic, Robert Parker Jr. was a fan of the property, indeed, writing of their exceptional 2001 La Reserve noted it as being one of the most monumental wines of this appellation I have ever tasted. Some praise indeed for a wine which really pushed the envelope internationally for this exceptional estate. One thing is certain over the ensuing years; they have never looked back.