Deep inky indigo in color

Ripe red fruits coupled with a woody/spicy character

Full bodied, yet not aggressively tannic & nicely balanced with acidity

A great fall food wine; try it with hearty pasta dishes, slow roasted meat & veggies

By the way, Gigondas is a blend of Grenache, Syrah & Mourvedre...yum!

Louis Bernard, Mr. Budget-Rhône himself, offers oodles of yummy wines throughout France's Southwest. I tried a red wine from the Gigondas appellation. It sounds like a fun place:

"Gigondas is a tiny hamlet of 700 inhabitants, nestled at the foot of hills that stretch into the jagged, limestone peaks of the Dentelles de Montmirail mountain range. The site was originally established as a roman military rest camp and named Jaconditas, or "Happy Town."