Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Les Baux de Provence Mas de Gourgonnier, 2009

I had this wine a couple of years ago at Chez Panisse in Berkeley, and it was a heavenly match for the Provencal entree that I ordered. I've been dreaming about that wine and that meal ever since.

At home, alas, the wine did not have the same charm, but it is still very good. Medium deep color, darker than a typical Southern Rhone. Assertive gamey, earthy scents to go along with the Southern Rhone profile. Dark berries and spice but also a touch of dark chocolate in the middle, similar to a Cabernet/Shiraz blend. Maybe that's because there is 23% Cabernet along with Syrah (18%), Grenache (23%) and Carignan (24%) in this Mas de Gourgonnier.

Re-corked and sitting on the shelf, this wine gets even better over the next several days. Side by side with the Delas Cotes du Rhone, it seems like a much more mature wine, even though they are both from the 2000 vintage. I paid $13.99 for this at Binny's in Chicago on the trip home from Chez Panisse.

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