Grainy dense ruby with the abruptest of edges. Dirty dirty pure funk rises up, never completely clearing, an opulent round of sticky barnyard blackberry and tapenade fruit throwing gobs of dark cherry and spice cake against all surfaces already coated with stinky black goodness. An edgy minerality is impossible to ignore, bringing peaty fantasy to something already approaching ethereal.
In the mouth, cool, calm lucidity of fruit, focused on pleasure before casting the whole thing to the acid-dogs. Round and full with a drying character displacing all throughout, the patina of copper-steel and wet redwood create a mouth-smacking mechanism bright with unforgivable tannin from the get-go. Black walnut hull and even blacker tea go tête-à-tête with the not-too-lush plum and strawberry to create a wine mouth-wretchingly acidic and tannic while still fruity enough for fascination and personal alignment.
2013 DOMAINE COURBIS Syrah St. Joseph Rhone France 13.0