INSIDER'S PICK: 2021 CLOS DU MONT-OLIVET COTES DU RHONE VIEILLES VIGNES $17.99

Even with all the things going on that have increased prices on so many things, the Rhone still remains one of the best wine regions in the world for value, quality, and a surprising amount of diversity as well. It's a fairly large area, so there is a lot to go around, and lots of very good producers with generations of experience with their family vineyards. There are also a wider number of grape varieties to blend together, so the wineries have more colors on their palette to paint with and intrigue your palate. Clos du Mont-Olivet and the Sabon family are part of the old guard in the Rhone, described by the Wine Advocate as 'one of the great estates of Chateauneuf-du-Pape', and their Cotes du Rhone is just as Old School as their CNDP. A blend of five varietals from vineyards just outside Chateauneuf and across the river in Lirac, this has a lot of the savory rustic side going from the first pour, with lots of pepper and dark cherry skin at first and a gamey, earthy feel to the palate. It rewards patience, even with a few years already under its belt, and over a few hours the red fruits sweeten up and the palate gets more lush and polished. We will leave the cork off this one most of today to help it move along when you taste, and will also benefit from a few extra swirls, but it rewards the extra patience with a higher level of complexity that exceeds its mere Cotes du Rhone-ness.

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