Old Faithful

There's a lot to be said for consistency, especially when one is talking about being consistently good and fairly priced.  

That's certainly the case with the 2010 M Chapoutier Cotes du Rhone Belleruche.  It's like every other year of this wine, flat out good.  Dark purple in the glass and a nose of fresh fruit.  Tons of bright strawberry flavors from the 80% of the wine that is Grenache.  Underlying that is some darker notes of plums from the 20% Syrah.  Good acid, medium body and nice almost sweet finish make this a red wine to love.  Not a wine to ponder, just a wine to drink, and that's what I did with a thick, grilled strip steak and some redskin potatoes roasted in duck fat.  

2010 M. Chapoutier Belleruche Cotes du Rhone.  14% alcohol and $11.