INSIDER'S PICK: 2015 DOMAINE DES HOMS MINERVOIS 'CLOTS DE PALS' $15.99

One of the great aspects of wine is its ability to show the character of its surroundings. The French have a term for this (as they do everything wine related), called 'terroir', and it covers all the different aspects of a vineyard's environment. Soil, sun exposure, temperature, and all the seasonal nuances throughout the year all go in to making the wines taste the way they do. This wine from the Languedoc region of Minervois is a perfect example, especially for those that drink Cotes du Rhone frequently. Even though the grapes used here in the blends are exactly the same, in this case just Grenache and Syrah, pretty much every Minervois wine we've come across has a distinct..... wildness to it. Over the years the quality from the smaller producers has been improving greatly, so if you enjoy that wilder side there are excellent values to be found.

Inky purple in the glass, the Minervois wild side is immediately noticeable in the first whiff, full of black raspberries, road tar (in a good way), and lots of black savory spice. The palate is hearty and dark, but not nearly as fruit forward as the aromas would first indicate, showing lots of blueberry skin and currant flavors, and a briary dried herb finish that brings a lot of savory flavors out. This is an ideal wine for grilling as it plays off the charred aspects of both meats and vegetables, has big flavor but isn't thick or heavy, and is priced to pull out any day of the week this summer.

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