GrapeSmart.net

Are you searching for something cheap, easy and delicious? Nope, this isn’t an ad for an online sex site; it’s a genuine endorsement for a bottle (or two or three) of 2007 La Vieille Ferme Cotes du Ventoux.

Hailing from the Cotes du Ventoux AOC in France (a region in the southeastern Rhone), this wine is a blend of 50% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 15% Carignan and 15% Cinsault – all grapes that grow well in the area’s limestone-rich terroir.

Lovely, lively red in the glass, with a bouquet and mouthfuls of juicy red fruit and just enough spice, this wine has a smooth, supple body and goes down easy (no really, I promise, I’m only talking about wine).

La Vieille Ferme is owned by Perrin & Fils (of Château de Beaucastel fame (”Beaucastel is regarded by many as one of the top estates, if not the top estate, of Châteauneuf du Pape, in the Southern Rhône Valley” – thewinedoctor.com). Much less powerful than it’s big sister wines (step-sisters? half-sisters?), however, this wine is a terrific value and is great for summer. Take it to picnics, concerts in the park, sunset walks on the beach… you get the idea.

And the best part? At less than $10 per bottle, you can enjoy this wine all you want – as often as you want – without any kind of commitment. That’s a small price to pay for a really good time. Salut!