2018 Domaine de la Bastide Cotes du Rhone Rouge

Just like a good friend who moves away and years later returns back home, the reunion is joyful as past memories begin to flow. You missed them terribly and can’t wait to generate an even greater bond between you. That is my experience with the 2018 Domaine de la Bastide Cotes du Rhone. I haven’t seen or tasted this wine in a number of years but recently received a sample to rate and review. Hailing from the southern part of the Cotes du Rhone region of France, the opening nose is quite fragrant with loads of rich and ripe black raspberry, blackberry, cherry and plum fruit on the palate. With a lush meatiness and hints of white pepper, there is that one underlying trait that always intrigued me about this wine: fig. Les Figue as it is known in French, there is an abundance of fig trees surrounding the property that somehow find themselves infused into the grapes DNA. With a makeup of 60% Syrah, 20% Grenache and 20% Carignane, this super juicy red is one of the best affordable wines from the region I have tasted in quite a long time. All I can say is, welcome back my friend.