Famille Lafage, Côtes du Roussillon (Roussillon, France) 2014

 This is a blend of 50% Grenache, 40% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre, which could raise the question, "Why not just buy Côtes du Rhône, which is usually pretty good and always easy to find?"  The answer is that this wine is much better than almost any $14 Côtes du Rhône you can find, and better than most $20 bottles from more glorified southern Rhône villages such as Vacqueyreas.  Moreover, plenty of retailers are selling this for only $12 or even less.  It shows excellent concentration but still seems natural and fresh, with no over-ripeness, no-over extraction, no excessive wood, and no cellar tricks.  The fruit is very expressive, but there are also savory nuances that lend remarkable complexity for a wine at this price level.  Surely one of the best bargains I’ve tasted during 2017.