I did not make notes on the first night, palate fatigue…On night two- it’s a rich purple and opaque.  On the nose it’s very earthy with notes of tobacco, iodine and blackberry.  On the palate it is very interesting- the uniqueness of the secondary flavors piques my interest.  Black cherries come out along with very concise tannins.  There’s a touch of astringency on the midpalate that I’m willing to overlook- the wine is multilayered enough for me to concentrate on the other facets.  It’s interesting, of decent quality and intriguing.  The finish leaves me with a desire for another mouthful.  89 points 5 stars for this $14 Merlot/Cab/Franc blend.  Drink till 2026.  Salut….

It was Moxie’s birthday so I opened this lovely Bordeaux in Magnum that’s been sitting in my cellar for many moons.  Very bright purple, surprisingly so.  No signs of aging whatsoever.  The nose is somewhat subdued.  After some frantic swirling I finally get  plum, leather and florals, like violet.  On the palate this wine is super smooth, fruity and fresh.  Black cherries, tobacco, crisp tannins and a zesty touch of acidity greet me.  This is not a blockbuster Bordeaux, it’s a refreshing, lighter wine that will appeal to many.  There are tertiary flavors on the midpalate that include spicebox , leather, rhubarb and blueberry.  The tannins really take hold and are gritty, they continue through the finish.  Speaking of which, it’s a decent length and concentrated on those tannins alongside blueberry and a touch of oak.  This is tasty, still young and will drink well till 2029.  I served it up with grilled Tri-Tips, delicious.  91 points and 4 stars, it can be found for around $125 per bottle.  Salut….