The nose is almost a cross between a Cote-Rotie, a CdP, and a Barolo: Tar, bacon, reisin, herbs de Provence, black cherry, some charred wood, a hint of Lundends cough drops. The palate is medium-bodied with medium colored fruits accented with some higher-toned berry-like fruits. Good earthiness again with especially the bacon and resin characteristics showing through. Long finish with medium level fine tannins. Over the course of a couple of hours in the decanter the wine began to open up and get better and better, but the last glass was "too open" and the oak treatment showed through a little more than ideal, particularly on the palate. An excellent food wine. 90.5(+?)

As a side note, this wine is imported by Rosenthal Wine Merchant. I've had very few wines imported by this company, but I am consistenly impressed by those that I try. It does seem like this importer is willing to take a chance on non-Parkerized wines that show real earth character and not a ton of upfront fruit and I like that very much. (I first became aware of this importer with the wonderful 1998 B. Levet Cote-Rotie Le Chavaroche which, to steal a quote from Steven Tanzer about the '00, is so Old World, it ought to come with a warning label.)

Noe of balsa wood, bacon, red and black cherries, licorice. Medium+ bodied palate with long finish wth soft tannins. A little too much oak for the fruit here, but still nice. 89.5... maybe 90... the oak integrated more over time.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: winetarelli,