Crous Saint Martin ‘Les Etires’ Cotes du Rhone 2022

90 Points (Best Buy), Wine Enthusiast

While most Côtes du Rhône at this price point deliver simple fruit-forward pleasure, this wine shows a remarkable precision and elegance you rarely find under $20, let alone $15. It’s silky smooth with the purest red and black fruits. The balance between power and finesse here is sensational – much more what you’d expect in a Gigondas or CdP. People will love this style.

We’re talking about the fruit of 30-50-year-old Grenache and Syrah planted on beautiful sandy clay soils near Courthézon. That vine age delivers a concentration and complexity you simply cannot get from younger plantings. Wine Enthusiast’s review captures it perfectly, noting “mouth-coating acidity and plush tannins” supporting dark fruits with a “lengthy finish”.