I chilled this wine a bit as it was a little warm.  This was a good call, but what wasn’t, was not decanting it.  This wine is big, sharp, tannic – just powerful, which I like, but would have benefited from decanter time to soften up or a few years in the cellar.

With that said, this Chateauneuf-du-Pape is the deepest ruby in the glass.  The color is definitely a hint to what the nose and palate will be.  Nose is all about dark, ripe berries with woodsy notes.  In the mouth it’s herbal, earthy, black licorice, anise and leather that are reflected. Full body with strong tannins is what you should expect.

Robert Parker: 89 Points.

Around $29.