Clos Chateau Gaillard, Touraine, Mesland

DDB pulled while BEB attends HdR 2009

The wine foam on the top of the bottle and the first glasses poured (occasioned from the double decanting of this wine), was the color of bright lilac. From the core to the rim, the wine itself is a deep, royal purple. The nose is distinct with walnuts, raspberry, a touch of sandalwood and earth. (A day later, the distinct bouquet of walnuts rises from the empty bottle.) This is one rather tasty wine for $18. Still rustic and a …

CT doesn't really allow for this description of encepagement, courtesy of the back label: 40 Malbec, 30 Gamay, 30 Franc. So of course it's black as night. The latter predominates the nose. Demeter certified, but I can't help but feel it smells of cultured yeast, just a hint of bubblegum. Flat midpalate followed by some youthful and brusque (but interesting) tannins. One might expect a scosh more halfway sweetness from the Cot, based on the nose and intention, but no. …