“The 2010 Aliot Blanc is a blend of mostly Roussanne, with smaller parts Grenache Blanc, Marsanne and Viognier. Beautifully rich and textured, yet also brilliantly pure and precise, it has loads of ripe peach and orchard fruit, creme, brioche, mineral and hints of honeysuckle all emerging from the glass. Aged in a combination of new and older barrels, this medium to full-­bodied white has both richness and freshness, and deserves a classy meal.

“Another up-­and-­coming estate (first vintage was 2006), Chene Bleu is located high up in the Dentelles de Montmirail, northeast of Gigondas, and covers roughly 70 acres of high altitude vineyards that are planted mostly to Syrah and Grenache, with the average age of the vines over 50 years in age. Restored by the Rolet family, with Nicole Rolet making the wines, this domaine has produced some incredible 2007s (as well as a smoking good 2010 white) that will compete with the finest efforts coming out of the Rhone Valley today. These certainly deliver on the quality front and show what’s possible from these higher elevation sites! They’re well worth checking out.”