Naked Wine Review 105
Wine: Rhone Red Wine
Grape Variety: Grenache 65%; Syrah 20%; Mourvedre 10%;
Carignan 5%
Producer: Vidal-Fleury
Vintage: 09'
Region: France>Cotes du Rhone>Controlee
Price: 15.00
Date tasted: 9/3/12
Place tasted: I was holed up in a cheap motel room somewhere in Idaho, hiding from naked government spies.... don't ask.
My dear friend and ally, Bob, had come along to help keep me calm and centered. Luckily I'd grabbed this bottle of Cotes du Rhone before we slinked out of town.
Locked in our motel room under assumed names, with blinds drawn, wearing stolen clothes and driving a rental car, we felt as safe and warm as if we were living in an old episode of 'Leave it to Beaver'. So why not relax, sip, and enjoy a moment of artificial peace?
Good ol' Bob; bad ol' spies.
Served with: Moussaka, with it's rich sweet lamby goodness and gentle spices paired beautifully with the wines elegant dry complexities.
This wine can handle strong flavors and plenty of acid and herb. Red pasta dishes, grilled meats, strong cheese...all good choices. Stay away from more subtle flavors as the wine will overpower them.
Appearance: Dense blood red body with a glowing deep purple soul.
On the snoot: Sandalwood and berries laced with wet, nose quenching minerality.
Taste: Herb and earth forward with notes of the rare blueberry fig fruit and a slight mid range tang. Finish is long and captivating with peppery firm leather wrapped tannins. She's everything a fine wine should be.
Balance: Hot, with light to medium body, high acidity/alcohol, no residual sugar, and a plethora of warm fuzzy little tannins. Very nice.
Comments: Let breathe for an hour or so before imbibing. Her perfume is enchanting and her character, exotic yet subtle.
You should buy some; and I should buy more.
Rating: 3.8 tipsys, excellent value.
Wine for this review compliments of:
White Plains, NY
