Domaine de L’Amandine, Côtes du Rhône Villages Séguret (Rhône Valley, France) 2021

 Séguret, a beautifully perched village in the southern Rhône valley, is one of 22 villages allowed to add their name to the Côtes du Rhône Villages appellation.  Rhône authority Matt Walls, refers to them as a “training camp before being elevated to Cru status.”  (Cru status would put them on a level with Gigondas, Vacqueryas, Rasteau, and the like.)  In other words, the price has yet to catch up with the quality, which is certainly the case with this wine.  With moderate weight, the crunchy red fruit offset by mild tannins makes this one a delight for a wide range of mid-winter fare.  I’m usually not a fan of red wine with cheese because the wine’s tannins can overwhelm.  But this one works marvelously with Comté because its freshness and acidity cuts and amplifies the rich nuttiness of the cheese.  It would also be a good foil for pizza or a take-out rotisserie chicken.