France, Southern Rhone, Chateauneuf-de-Pape
65% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 15% Mourvedre and 5% others
$33.99 at PA Wine and Spirits Store
We drank this wine over two nights, first with baked pork and veal with Dijon potatoes, then with grilled sausage and salad. We decanted the wine about 60 minutes before drinking on the first night.
This wine was dark ruby in color. It had an initial funkiness on the nose right after opening that disappeared within 20 minutes or so. Otherwise, it had nice cherry and red fruit aromas, along with pencil shavings, green peppers, dirt and maybe some faint mint. Given the complexity of the nose, it was a little bit of a disappointment on the palate. It started with a subtle dose of cherry and dark fruit, then quickly let loose with the tannins, which were strong and gritty. The second night brought forward a few more of the complex flavors like green peppers, cigar and cedar that were evidently lost in the tannins the first night. All in all, it seemed a little light on the fruit side for such a young wine.
It did pair well with both dishes, and I would expect it to go well with just about any strong, meaty dish that can stand up to the dryness of the tannins. Maybe more time in the cellar would make it more complex and enticing, but if you’re looking for fruit it may be already too late on this one. I gave this wine three stars in my log. Although it’s a good, well-structured wine overall, based on the price I have to consider it a little too pricey for what it delivered.
65% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 15% Mourvedre and 5% others
$33.99 at PA Wine and Spirits Store
We drank this wine over two nights, first with baked pork and veal with Dijon potatoes, then with grilled sausage and salad. We decanted the wine about 60 minutes before drinking on the first night.
This wine was dark ruby in color. It had an initial funkiness on the nose right after opening that disappeared within 20 minutes or so. Otherwise, it had nice cherry and red fruit aromas, along with pencil shavings, green peppers, dirt and maybe some faint mint. Given the complexity of the nose, it was a little bit of a disappointment on the palate. It started with a subtle dose of cherry and dark fruit, then quickly let loose with the tannins, which were strong and gritty. The second night brought forward a few more of the complex flavors like green peppers, cigar and cedar that were evidently lost in the tannins the first night. All in all, it seemed a little light on the fruit side for such a young wine.
It did pair well with both dishes, and I would expect it to go well with just about any strong, meaty dish that can stand up to the dryness of the tannins. Maybe more time in the cellar would make it more complex and enticing, but if you’re looking for fruit it may be already too late on this one. I gave this wine three stars in my log. Although it’s a good, well-structured wine overall, based on the price I have to consider it a little too pricey for what it delivered.
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