Jean & Jean-Paul Versino N.V. Vin De France Cuvee Le Petit Oursan, Rhone Valley

Grown in a vineyard 10 kilometers from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, this delicious, affordable red wine had me thinking “Wine of the Month” candidate.  With a rich texture, the wine is bursting with flavor, but tempered, with some grip in the finish.  Made of 45% Grenache 40% Merlot and 15% Syrah, this unconventional blend is fermented 75% in stainless steel, 25% in old Chateauneuf barrels, then aged in cement tanks.  It’s a fabulous red wine for the money, and it has a cooler-climate personality for a south-of-France blend.