92+ 2014 Gros' Noré Bandol 4/27/18 ($32)
80% Mourvedre, 15% Grenache, 5% Cinsault 14.5% alc
Color: Deep purple garnet. (3.0) Bouquet: Mixed wild berries (black raspberry, dried strawberry, boysenberry and even cassis with aromatic tree bark and other brambly forestal nuances combined with dried herbs. (3.5) Body: Light heavyweight with excellent fruit and loads of healthy tannins. Coat the mouth beautifully. (3.0) Flavor: Parallels bouquet, but does show some astringency at this point. (3.0) Finish: Long persistent flavors that are more expressive than the flavor. (3.5)
Overall: A truly excellent expression of Bandol that could be outstanding once the tannins calm down in the next 5 years. But even now the very distinctive brambles, tree bark and dried herbs give it the signature of top notch Bandol/Mourvedre and the wild berry fruit does meet the tannins. An excellent value that goes well now with something hearty and spicy like sausages. (16)
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