I’m having Cassoulet for dinner. For grins I went online to see what others would pair with this rustic French dish of white beans, Duck Confit and sausage. Well, well- they all recommended a French wine, with deference to the southern regions. This bottle is a 50/50 blend of old vine Grenache and old vine Syrah from the North and Southern Rhone. It is slightly cloudy and a deep shade of ruby. The nose has pronounced aromas of black plum, black raspberry, smoke, meat, licorice, espresso, açaí and black pepper. That’s quite complex for a $20 bottle! The palate is tannic right off the bat. Black fruit and red fruit combine with spice and oak nuance that are all enveloped in a mouth coating dryness from the tannins along with juicy acidity. Full bodied, this 14.5% ABV wine is a not for the feint of heart- it is full throttle with the fruit, the tannins, the acidity and the mouthfeel. It has a mid length finish that remains quite mouth-puckering from the relentless tannic grip. I hope my dish mellows this 92 point wine out somewhat! Being an NV, I am not sure when it was made but this bottle will last till 2030 at the least. 5 stars. Salut….
Xavier Vignon “SM” Côtes du Rhône NV, Rhone, France
15 Tuesday Mar 2022
Posted Wine
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