($40; 50% mourvedre, 27% syrah, 16% grenache and 7% counoise) Medium-deep red. Perfumed aromas of black cherry liqueur, forest floor scents and meat. Impressively silky and suave on entry, then sweet and supple in the middle, with no sense of excess weight. Compared to the 2002, this is a more fruit-driven blend, offering notes of black cherry, raspberry, iron, licorice and spices. Long, mounting finish features smooth tannins. At 14.8% this is high in alcohol for a wine from Tablas Creek yet quite moderate for a Rhone blend from this neighborhood.

Professional content appears courtesy of Vinfolio

The 2003 Esprit de Beaucastel, a blend of 50% Mourvedre, 27% Syrah, 18% Grenache, and 5% Counoise, exhibits a saturated deep ruby/purple color in addition to a superb nose of blackberries, blue fruits, crushed minerals, new saddle leather, animal fur, and flowers. With wonderful concentration and purity buttressed by considerable structure as well as moderately high tannin, this foudre-aged effort will benefit from another 1-2 years of cellaring, and promises to keep for a decade or more.

Professional content appears courtesy of Vinfolio

Deep ruby in color and displaying intriguing aromas of black fruit, fennel, and meat with a light touch of smoke, the flavor of this Rhone style wine was a wonderfully elegant expression of its blend of Mourvedre, Syrah, Grenache, and Counoise - tasting of blackberry, black currant, blueberry, clove, anise, violet, and thyme. The fruit, which was not overt or forward in any way, was in perfect balance with a truly lively acidity and medium, round tannins. Its delicate complexity is further savored by a nice medium-long finish. A fine wine all around and an exceptional choice, I imagine, to pair with duck.