Mas du Bouquet Vacqueyras

Mas Du Vacqueyras WINE: Mas du Bouquet Vacqueyras 2007
FOOD: Roasted Duck with Apples, Honey & Cider Vinegar

Deep ruby red in color, with aromas of blackberry, cherry, lavender and anise. This has a fruit-forward style dominated by dark berries, but the wine also displays an interesting herbal flavor. A fruit-laden wine pairs nicely with the apples and the sweetness of the meat, while the wine's earthiness highlights the rich, gamey aspects of a whole-roasted duck. The wine finishes with a touch of tannin, which lingers tastefully through the duck's mouth-coating silkiness.

Red wines from the Southern RhÃ´ne are made from a variety of grapes but most are blends of grenache and syrah. In addition to these grapes, many wines from this region include lesser amounts of mourvedre and/or cinsaut. The RhÃ´ne's most celebrated wine, ChÃ¢teauneuf-du-Pape, can include up to 13 different grapes! Though a little less polished, Vacqueyras (most of which come in at $20 or under) is an excellent alternative to the pricier ChÃ¢teauneuf-du-Pape.