2016 Rotie Cellars Homage

Full medium red. Slightly candied aromas of crushed cherry, strawberry, licorice and tree bark are lifted by pepper and spices. Savory, suave and fine-grained on entry, then slightly salty in the mid-palate, but with enough balancing acidity and peppery lift to enliven its flavors of red berries and spices. A bit more peppery and bound-up in the style of its vintage than the 2017 Little G but boasts excellent intensity, as well as the fresh, sweet fruit to counter its saline character. Finishes with firm, dusty but nicely integrated tannins and very good length and lift. This wine still needs a year or two. You may score some of these new releases from Rôtie Cellars a bit higher than I did for their flamboyant aromatics. (15% alcohol; vinified with about 20% stems, most of them from the Mourvèdre)