Ridiculously black purple, barely lightening at the minuscule edge. Big warm briar and peach fuzz abrasiveness in the nose–a fuzzy black kind-of fruit so black and impenetrable it defies presentation in common parlance. Black cherry, burnt cinnamon and glycerine along a stemmy trail of wilted briar and dusty rose.
In the mouth, acid and tannin tag-team the fruit entry. They take no chances getting their point across, and the fruit is brighter and livelier for their efforts. An essential bitterness ramps up early and rules the roost, dripping white-hot ripeness on sizzling acidity on all sides.
This is a fun wine, definitely not a variety you see every day and an extremely complex wine. Ripe and tannic, concentrated and bright–all at the same time. Find it if you can.
2015 LAGIER MEREDITH Mondeuse Mt. Veeder Napa Valley 14.5
