'97 Taylor Fladgate LBV

[hotwine]

We went to the local gourmet joint last night, Carlos Garcia's El Chapparal; started as a hole-in-the-wall 20 years ago and now the region's finest for Tex-Mex. After dinner of bean soup, enchiladas, Spanish rice and re-fried beans with Dos Equis Amber to wash it down, needed a glass of sweetness; pulled this one from the cellar to avoid waking older ones that are worthy of more sleep. A dark bright ruby in the glass, strong alcohol and somewhat subdued fruit on the nose; not hot at all on the palate but not a lot of fruit, either. Insipid and disappointing, to be blunt. Purchased in Feb of this year at Costco Liquors* for $17.49. Alcohol is 20%.

*Costco Liquors is a beer/wine/spirits shop adjacent to the main Costco entrance that is open to the general public, with no club membership required. Their selection of wines is different from those found in Costco proper, generally focused on the low end of the market without the diversity found in the main store. Still, it's worth a visit now and then.