Tasted right after bottle open, tasted again an hour after decanting.
Clear, deep garnet color, with no separation around the edges. Nice fat legs.
The nose is typical Rhone, all corrupt cherries and leather.
On first taste, its tight, and the leather is prominent. It has a good structure though, with no residual heat.
After an hour in a decanter, it opened up, showing cherry, strawberry, leather, a little mint and a long licorice-y finish. In fact, the only fault I found with this wine was the pronounced licorice at the finish. Both the missus and I professed disappointment that the bottle was empty. Always a good sign.
This is a yummy wine, and yet another great bargain from the Rhone. Not quite as good as I remember the 2000 Clos de Caillou Cotes du Rhone, but for 19 bucks, I am so going back for seconds.
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