2001 Bonny Doon Old Telegram

[dananne]

This is Randall Grahm's homage to Vieux Telegraphe, and it is made from Mourvedre. Deep red in color, bordering on purple, with a nose of dark fruits and wet slate. Decanted 1 hour before 1st pour and through evening. Chunky black fruit flavors, weighty in the mouth, and very viscous. Prickly tannins are keeping this pretty tightly wrapped, at present, despite the decanting and the WS tasting note that says "to '07." Yet another WS tasting note with which I disagree, but that's beside the point. The wet slate on the nose carries over to the palate, where there is a minerality that is difficult to articulate. Would match well with hearty winter fare, and it hit the spot on a chilly evening in Atlanta, where the overnight lows dipped into the '20s. All you Yankees can stop the guffaws now. 14.5% alc. We paid $40 locally at Whole Foods, where wine prices typically run a bit higher than average. Anne liked it and said it hit the spot. WS 86, FWIW.