Winter is my favorite time of year to drink Rhone wines. A cold day, a fire, a hearty meal, say beef stroganoff (substituting pork loin for the beef) and voila, a great way to end the day. Okay, in sunny California a cold day does not exactly measure up to the rest of the world's cold days (excluding those of you in Hawaii of course), but cold is relative when it comes to weather. Sure I put on a light windbreaker, rather than a heavy wool overcoat, but it almost feels bundled up. Anyway, to the wine.
This is another K&L Wine Club selection. It is solid if not spectacular. The wine went great with dinner (which was only okay, too much sour cream in the stroganoff blend I think). It was strong with dust and dirt flavor, but also had some very nice spice and a hint of chocolate/licorice nose. It is a deep colored and full bodied wine with good balance. It tastes quite a bit better than the nose right now. I expect this wine will drink very well over the next seven to ten years, but no one would be disappointed opening a bottle and drinking it now.
WR
