91+ 2013 Maxime Magnon Rozeta (Corbieres) 3/18/16 ($35)
mostly Carignan with 13.5% alc
Color: Deep black cherry to ruby. (3.0) Bouquet: Framboise liqueur and blueberries with nuances of yeast and subtle, flowery spice. (3.0) Body: Solid middleweight with a tangy mouthfeel. Excellent fruit, acidity and subtle tannins underneath. Very well balanced. (3.0) Flavor: More expressive than the bouquet with a juicyness in the mouth and a strong mid-palate showing concentration. (3.5) Finish: Smooth tannins and precise fruit linger beautifully, but still needs time to totally open. (3.0)
Overall: . A tasty and very interesting Old Vines Carignan. It has an elegance driven by minerality that is reminiscent of top notch Red Burgundy, but its precise berry flavors are unique to old vines Carignan, which is not to be confused with cheap, uninspiring Southern French plonk made from young vines Carignan. Can be drunk now with a decanting and should be at its best in 3-5 years. (15.5)
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