Sneak Preview Wine of the Week: A Châteauneuf wannabe

This label shows the 2008, which is also delicious!

My Sneak Preview Wine of the Week is the stunningly good single-vineyard Côtes-du-Rhône “Montueil-la-Levade” 2009 produced by Clos du Mont-Olivet ($15), which I give three stars (“Exceptional”) in this coming Wednesday’s Washington Post Food section.

Châteauneuf-du-Pape lovers, take note: This single-vineyard Côtes-du-Rhône from a noted Châteauneuf producer could easily fool even die-hard imbibers that it came from the more expensive appellation. The blend is 80% Grenache, 15% Carignan and 5% Syrah, and the wine was fermented and aged in concrete tanks. Believe me, it doesn’t miss the oak. Rich, deep and intense, this gorgeous wine needs time – either a few hours in a decanter or some years in your cellar. I suggest buying a case and opening one bottle every other year until the wine is showing the way you like, then drink up.

For wine lovers in the DMV, this stunner is distributed by Dionysus, and is available at the following area stores: Available in the District at MacArthur Beverages, and Whole Foods Market P Street and Tenleytown; and on the list at Palena. Available in Maryland at Balducci’s, Bradley Food & Beverage, and Cork & Fork in Bethesda; and Finewine.com in Gaithersburg. Available in Virginia at Arrowine in Arlington; Balducci’s in McLean and Alexandria; Chain Bridge Cellars in McLean; Cork & Fork in Gainesville; Out of Site Wines in Vienna; Unwined in Alexandria and Belleview; and Whole Foods Market in Alexandria, Tyson’s Corner, and Vienna.