La Bastide Saint Dominique, Lirac (Rhône Valley, France) 2010

 An absolutely terrific bargain, this blend of 65% Grenache, 30% Syrah and 5% Mourvèdre is wonderfully rich and deep in flavor.  The aromas remain rather reticent, but the flavors are very expressive, with dark cherry fruit that is so generous and dense that you’ll need to conduct a sensory search for the wine’s acidity and tannin.  You’ll find them if you concentrate on the wine’s finish, but they are already remarkably integrated with the fruit notes.  At its very best, Lirac can rival excellent expressions of Châteauneuf-du-Pape for a much lower price, and this wine definitely lives up to that potential.