Les Grandes Serres Vacqueyras

Fruity and spicy with lots of alcohol. A rich, yet pleasant wine from ripe grapes.

Ripe strawberry, blackberry and barnyard nose. Rich, yet tart, raspberry, earth, and smoked meat palate. Nice acid and fine tannins.

I wasn't particularly impressed with the wine. It was a bit weak and thin, and frankly was overpowered by a meal that was not particularly overpowering. Pleasant enough, but not all that special.

Tried a lot of Cote du Rhone lately, and this is *much* better -- bigger fruit, nice balance of acid and tannin. Fruit tastes of violets, pencil shavings, lavender...Why can't CA Syrah ever taste like this? Had the 1st half bottle last night, but it wasn't nearly so good as tonight, so this one should age well for a few years.

Dark fruit nose with some liquorice, meat and herbaceousness. Full-bodied with pleasently grippy tannins and just adequate low-level acidity. Prunes, graphite, olives and meat. Even though this comes across quite extracted, there's enough structure and balance to make the entirity work. Some heat in the decent length finish. A very good pairing with smoked lamb.

Bright Rhone blend, full, California style Rhone blend. 14.5% alc/vol, dark in color, red fruit, ready to drink