Saint Damien 2022 Cotes du Rhone "Plan de Dieu" 750ml

One of the bargains in the Saint Damien cellar is the 2022 Cotes du Rhone Villages Plan de Dieu Vieilles Vignes, which was being bottled on the day I visited the domaine. A blend of Grenache and Mourvèdre matured in concrete, it offers up scents of sunbaked stones and black cherries. Full-bodied and velvety textured, it's perhaps a touch warm, with hints of peppery spice and licorice on the finish.

Score: 89-91 points -- Joe Czerwinski, The Wine Advocate, 2024