Wine: Domaine La Florane “Je Ne Souffre Plus”
Available at: Black Chicken Wine Cellar
Price: $20

On the nose: Notes of spice, cedar, rich dark fruits and a bit of smoke
On the palate: Rich, ripe layers of blackberry and plum, with integrated tannins
On the plate: This wine would pair well with barbecue ribs, burgers, roasted pork, or eggplant parmesan.

Our take: A full-bodied, rich red made of 50 percent grenache and syrah. that drinks well all year. It is sulfite free, so it has no residual aftertaste that you sometimes get in warm-weather red wines. 

Interesting fact: The Rhone River Valley in southern France is prone to mistral winds that form in the Swiss Alps and build up power as they follow the river valley south into France. When they hit the warm air near the Mediterranean Sea, hailstones form and wreak havoc on the vineyards throughout the valley. This usually happens in July, which is really bad timing for almost-ripe grapes. Most trellised vines are tied to metal poles. However, this region uses wood poles, which will sway with the winds and not snap off, and can bear the heavy hail that happens every couple of years. —Anita Skogland

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