Alain Jaume Cotes-du-Rhone "Les Champauvins" 2019

This may be labeled as Cotes-du-Rhone, but there is much more to the story. When the boundaries of Chateauneuf-du-Pape were drawn up in the 1930s, they were, in some cases, done completely arbitrarily. While most high-quality Chateauneuf vineyards were included, there were winners and losers.  Losing out at the time were several very good vineyards in the northern part of the area. Perhaps most famously the two vineyards of Coudoulet and Champauvins. Take a look at the uppermost area of the map to see exactly what I mean.  The only thing that kept Champauvins from being a Chateauneuf was a barely used dirt and gravel road that you can see just to its south. So what you really have here is a "baby Chateauneuf" for $24. This actually contains a little bit of Coudoulet fruit as well.  70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre. Serve cool.