Le Gramenon Cotes du Rhone, 1998

This wine offers about what I expect from a 1998 Cotes du Rhone--not much. Gramenon is a very good estate, and I remember an excellent Gramenon Sierra du Sud I had about 11 or 12 years ago. This Le Gramenon would have been at least as good through most of the early 2000s, but, like most CDRs, it was not built for extended aging. The color is several shades lighter than the Domaine Sainte Anne, and the aromas and flavors are also considerably lighter. Pleasantly ripe strawberries and cherries, a bit thin on the palate but actually works pretty well with beef tenderloin with bearnaise sauce. Lacks both the intensity and complexity of the CDR Villages below or the Domaine Saint Anne simple Cotes do Rhone. A faded beauty.