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A blend of syrah, grenache, cinsault with just a soupçon of mourvèdre and carignane, make for a bright and wonderfully gamey wine. Very youthful with toasty notes of cherry, birch, sassafras and pomegranate. Pair this racey red with a bloomsdale spinach salad with sherry vinaigrette garnished with carpaccio of tuna or beef. Speaking of beef, a rare steak in any number of variations (tri-tip,  hanger, New York, filet) would be quite delish. But more exotic fare such as chicken tikka masala or Tandoori lamb chops will also work wonderfully well. While the zesty ’06 is excellent right now, decanting or aging it for 2-3 more years would be all to the good.

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Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar - 90 Points ('05 vintage):
"50% grenache, 24% mourvedre, 22% syrah, 3% carignane and 1% cinsault; 13.5% alcohol) Full red. Deep, smoky aromas of raspberry, cherry, tobacco, underbrush and mocha. Sweet and silky, offering open-knit red fruit flavors complicated by suave baking spices and vanilla bean. Finishes with lingering red fruits and spices."  - Josh Raynolds (Nov/ Dec 2009)

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate ('05 vintage):
"The 2005 Cigare Volant (50% Grenache and the rest Mourvedre, Syrah, Carignan, and Cinsault) exhibits peppery, earthy, black currant and black cherry fruit, and medium body. This spicy, hedonistic vin de plaisir should be enjoyed over the next 2-3 years. Purchasers should treat it like a French Cotes du Rhone."  - Robert Parker (8/2009)

Wine Spectator Magazine ('05 vintage):
"An elegant style, showing pleasing grapey wild berry, spice and subtle herb shadings, with a whiff of barnyard. Medium- to full-bodied, this wins points for balance and complexity. Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah, Carignane and Cinsault. Drink now through 2014. 1,800 cases made." –JL (5/31/2009)

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