Laudun Cotes Du Rhone Villages

Laudun Côtes du Rhône Villages is a red wine named for the Côtes du Rhône Villages tier, and its Laudun label points to a southern Rhône style. Wines in this tier are usually built on Grenache, often with Syrah and Mourvèdre. Expect ripe red cherry, raspberry and strawberry, with black pepper, dried herbs and a little garrigue-style scrubland character. Bodies tend to be medium to medium-full, with soft to moderate tannin and enough acidity to keep the fruit from feeling heavy. Oak is typically restrained or absent in this category, so the fruit and spice usually lead. The finish is usually warm and moderately long. The listing doesn't give a vintage, blend or alcohol level, so check the bottle label for those. This style suits food with some savory weight. It works well with roast chicken and herbed lamb. It also suits sausages, cassoulet-style bean stews and ratatouille. Grilled vegetables and mushroom dishes are good matches too, and so are hard sheep's-milk cheeses and charcuterie. The soft tannins mean it won't overwhelm tomato-based pasta or pizza, which makes it a reasonable weeknight red. Very spicy dishes tend to exaggerate the wine's warmth, so keep heat moderate. Serve it slightly cool, around 16 to 18°C (60 to 65°F). About 30 minutes in the refrigerator before opening brings a room-temperature bottle into that range. A red of this type rarely needs formal decanting. Pouring it into a decanter or jug for 15 to 30 minutes can loosen the aromas if the wine seems tight on opening. A medium-sized, tulip-shaped red wine glass with a moderately wide bowl lets the fruit and pepper open up without exposing the alcohol. Wines from this appellation tier are generally made to drink young, and most are at their best within a few years of release. Treat this as a drink-now bottle unless the label or later notes say otherwise. Some Villages wines hold well for several more years, but you shouldn't count on that here. Once opened, recork it and keep it in a cool place. It should stay pleasant for two to three days.