Chapoutier Crozes-Hermitage "Petite Ruche" 2006

[Thraz]

$18 at Costco.

The last of my Costco run on Rhones and Loires.

A very good wine, and a nice change of pace from the southern Rhones I have been drinking of late. A fine representative of French syrah, a bit of leather on the nose, covers your mouth and tongue with strong subtelty if there is such a thing, and gets a good grip on your throat for a while, all in a very friendly but manly way. Also, it clearly shows why the world should be thankful you did not become a poet (even after 12 hours, in a completely sober mode). Great value, I would have believed it if I had been told it was something from one of the more expensive neighboring appellations, maybe Cornas.