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American wine drinkers’ romance with wines made from grapes linked to the Rhone Valley of France continues. This wine, from California’s Central Coast, is another delightful success for America’s Rhone Rangers.

A blend of four grapes–syrah, mourvedre, grenache and counoise–it is inspired by the table wines of the Rhone and emphasizes ripe, approachable flavors, says winemaker Chuck Carlson.

This $12 blend has aromas of clove-accented cherry and flavors of cherry, plum and peppery spice. The fruit is round but not over the top. The taste is soft, not harsh, despite 10 months of aging in French oak. Sip it with a stew of lamb or duck, steak seasoned with Provence herbs, or vegetable lasagna.