L'Anglore Cuvée des Traveres is an old vines blend of 60% Syrah, 30% Mourvedre, and 10 % Grenache. This red was one of the most expressive and honest wines that I have tasted in a very long time. The nose carries lovely notes of herbs de Provence, black olive tapenade, a dusting of lavender, smoked meats, saddle leather and a soft inflection of sandy soil. In true organic style, the wine is somewhat cloudy in the glass, due to the lack of added sulfites. The palate is round and gently expressive with flavors of ripe black berry fruit, smoky terroir and lavender that roll along the palate simultaneously. It is pure and relatively low in alcohol for a wine from the Southern Rhône, making it easy to enjoy a few glasses without feeling the alcohol too heavily. I had this Côtes-du-Rhône gem with Richard Olney’s recipe for lamb shoulder on a bed of potatoes and it was ideal. It will also pair well with a wide array of hearty dishes like lamb stew, grilled steak or strong aged cheeses.

—Donald