Valreas Cuvee Prestige, Les Vignerons de L'Enclave des Papes, 2007

This wine is one of my all-time favorites from Trader Joe's, and in the 2007 vintage, it is particularly fine--a true Cotes du Rhone Villages wine at a price ($5.99) about half what you'd expect to pay for a simple Cotes du Rhone. It's a cooperative wine, but Les Vignerons de L'Enclave des Papes is recognized as one of the top coops of the southern Rhone.

Clearly at a very early stage in its development, the 2007 Valreas Cuvee Prestige is very deep and dark, almost purplish. On the first night, the smells and flavors are almost sweetish, but this is because of the abundant fruit from the 2007 vintage. On the second night, the spicy, peppery elements begin to emerge, creating impressive depth, even for a Villages wine. Aromas are redolent of blueberries, spice and licorice. Hidden on the first night, tannins are lurking on the palate underneath the spice, black fruits and black pepper. In my view, this wine has a large upside potential over the next five years and maybe even longer.