2000 Alain Graillot Crozes-Hermitage

[JohnG]

Spent more on this than I usually do ($18), but it was worth it.

Color is a reddish-purple, with a nose of raspberry and plums. On the palate, more of the same plus a bit of pepper, a tannin or two, and some tartness that gave the wine a brightness that I really liked. Medium boded with a nice, silky mouthfeel.

I believe that this is mostly syrah, but there has to be something else in there. The tartness reminded me of some barberas that I've enjoyed. Does anyone know what other varietals might be in this?

[Innkeeper]

It's 100% syrah. From your description, if all was in balance, you might have given it a little more bottle age. If you liked it the way it was, though, what the hay.

[JohnG]

Thanks for the info, IK. So the tartness that I picked up perhaps is analogous to the tartness in not-quite-ripe grapes? As I noted, it reminded me of some Italians that I've enjoyed, and it went well with food (eggplant with tomato sauce and goat cheese one night, roasted chicken the other). I probably should pick up another bottle and sit it down for a while to get a truer sense of what Crozes-Hermitage are like.

[Innkeeper]

Good idea.