88 2007 Domaine Brusset Laurent B. Côtes du Rhône 4/5/09 ($12)
13% alc
Color: Deep purple ruby. (3.0) Bouquet: Sweet blackberry liqueur fruit with bramble and herbs complementing. (3.0) Body: Solid middleweight with excellent fruit concentration and acidity. (3.0) Flavor: Parallels bouquet, but a little thinner in the mid-palate. (2.5) Finish: Again, parallels bouquet and has length, but loses some distinction. (2.5)
Overall: Its concentrated blackberry fruit is impressive for the price. Smooth with no rough edges. It loses some distinction in the flavor and finish, but still an excellent value that may improve with a year or two of bottle age. A fine example of the potential bargains to be found in Cotes du Rhone in this great vintage. (13.0)