Chateau Vernous, Medoc

This was the first bottle of French wine I purchased (Jan, 2005). While it wasn't anything spectacular, it was interesting. Very little fruit throughout; the aromas & flavors were much more subtle. On the nose, plum, anise, cigar box, tar, leather, allspice, barnyard, and hints of metal. Palate of mild red fruit and smokey tobacco. Mint and metal on the finish. Medium-bodied. The acidity was initially too much, but it mellowed out as the wine opened up. Chewy, moderate tannins. …

Dark colour. Cask oriented nose with vanilla, liquorice and sweet pipe tobacco with clear notes of cannabis sativa. On the palate warm and rounded, yet somewhat angular and clumsy, slightly inky, not so fresh. Moderate concentration and intensity, not very fruity, slightly thin on the midpalate. Bit sour and minty finish. Improves with air, and gives more generous taste of aniseed and liquorice. Despite the above objections it's still a good and drinkable glass of médoc at $21.