Famille Perrin Cotes du Ventoux Rouge, 2022

Even for a Tuesday night dinner, I twisted the screwcap about an hour early. Even so, this Ventoux kept getting better throughout the meal, offering everything I expect from a good Southern Rhone.

Lovely bright crimson/violet color. Scents of red and blue berries plus a hint of violets. Vibrant Grenache berries. Cinsault and Carignan spice. Syrah black pepper. Just enough tannin to balance the fresh acidity. Very enjoyable wine.
 

Paul Jaboulet Aine Crozes-Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert, 1994

I love Jaboulet's Crozes-Hermitage Thalabert and have consumed numerous bottles since the early 1980s. I find a consistent charm and depth that I identify immediately with Thalabert. But the wine also undergoes changes, and I see these as neither good nor bad but representative of the changes that are part of life. My last bottle, six years ago, was redolent of black and green olives, a trait I love in Northern Rhome Syrah. Those traits are not present tonight but replaced by hints of cured meats..

Lots of bricking seen on a small pour but deep and saturated color in a full glass. Bouquet is not as intense as it was six years, but flavors are full of the Thalabert charm ad complexity. Black fruits and a few red fruit tones. Hallmark Thalabert finish that captures my full attention and approval.

 

Pelissero Barbera d'Alba Tulin, 2009

In Italy's Piedmont region, Barbera is generally an every day drinking wine. But Barberas are capable of aging gracefully...as exemplified by this wine from Perlissero.

Deep, bright, beautiful ruby red. From the first sip, this Barbera says luxury. Boysenberries, black raspberries, black currants, vanilla. A powerful wine with noticeable tannic structure but has the acidity to balance the lush fruit and firm tannins. I didn't aerate but wish I had; it keeps getting better and more complex. Showing beautifully right now at 16 years of age but will probably get better over the next few years.