88+ 2009 Odonata Black Darter (Central Coast) 12/17/11 ($30)
67% Grenache, 17% Syrah, 16% PetiteSirah 14.3% alc
Color: Deep purple garnet. (3.0) Bouquet: Black raspberry, black cherry, black licorice and cocoa, also some briary spice. (3.0) Body: Solid middleweight plus with excellent acidity and very good fruit and tannin with a good dose of oak. Rich, tangy mouthfeel that coats. (3.0) Flavor: Parallels bouquet, but fruit is covered by cedary oak. The oak is not bitter, but it adds a strong cocoa component that overwhelms the fruit. (2.5) Finish: Parallels flavor with tangy, chocolatey black raspberry lingering. (2.5)
Overall: A rich, fruity Rhone blend with plenty of oak, but smooth, not bitter. When I first opened this, the sweet, cocoa oak overwhelmed everything else with a strong Creme de Cacao flavor (scored it about 86). After 24 hours in the frig, the black raspberry, black cherry and black licorice, driven by acidity, have risen to meet the cocoa. Needs time to integrate. I'd say 2-5 years. If drinking now, decant 3+ hours. (14.0)
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