Domaine Sainte-Anne Cotes du Rhone Villages Notre Dame des Cellettes, 2004

This cuvee of Domaine Sainte-Anne's Cotes du Rhone Villages is produced from older vines at the estate and includes a higher percentage (10 to 20%) of Mourvedre. It costs a few dollars more than the regular CDR Villages and is definitely worth the premium. I have had glorious bottles of the 1998 and 2000 Notre Dame; the 2004 vintage is not as good but still a special wine.

Deep, bright crimson. With age, the wine has lost the high-toned, lifted aromas that are characteristic of young Domaine Sainte Anne wines and has developed some beautiful secondary aromas and flavors. Strawberries and red raspberries. Skin tannins contribute a lot to this wine; they are deep and full of flavor...even when you get down to the sediment at the bottom of the bottle.