La Vieille Ferme Red

Wine: La Vieille Ferme Red

Grapes: carignane (40 percent), grenache (30 percent), syrah (28 percent), cinsault (2 percent)

Region: Cotes du Ventoux, Southern Rhone, France

Vintage: 2010

Price: $7.99

In the glass: La Vieille Ferme is a deep, dark semi-opaque cherry-red color with light purplish streaks going out into a firm pinkish-red rim definition and high viscosity.

On the nose: There are immediate upfront freshly crushed red and black berry fruits with peppery undertones, stewed cherries, licorice root, earthy minerals, violet pastilles, wet tobacco and herbs de Provence.

On the palate: The wine is upfront with big fruit extraction, spicy black cherry notes, lots of peppery red fruit and a big, powerful structure with present but supple tannins. The midpalate shows lovely complexity with yet more pepper, crushed sloe fruit, elderberry juice and herbs and faint hints of aged wood. The finish is solid with hints of raspberry liqueur and rustic mineral edges as well as spices, and the wine lingers for 20-plus seconds on the palate.

Odds and ends: From a superb vintage in the Southern Rhone Valley comes this interesting blended wine, made of the most common and popular grape varietals grown in this region of southeastern France. It is made by Marc, Francois and Jean-Pierre Perrin, who are the co-owners of the illustrious Chateau de Beaucastel in the heart of the Chateauneuf-du-Pape appellation.

It is normally not easy to take the different components that each varietal offers and then be able to "see" the final picture and how it is going to develop. There are numerous examples of this stage of the winemaking process gone awry, but here is a harmonious, delicious little wine made by people who know their craft.

It's also delightful to see this kept at a reasonable price. This is a brand new vintage and just arrived in the market, so it can age through 2015 without issues.

Drink it with a nice confit de canard or perhaps just roast duck, maybe even Peking style. Bring it to your favorite Halloween party and it might just scare up a big fright of a delight in the glass.

Gil Lempert-Schwarz's wine column appears Wednesdays. Write him at P.O. Box 50749, Henderson, NV 89106-0749, or email him at gil@winevegas.com.