Rhone valley part 4 continued... 

Rhone Part 4, Thursday: it warms up quite a bit today with lots of sun. Beautiful Gigondas village is a setting of stone edifices, narrow lanes and steep hills. I'm tasting Gigondas, Vacqueyras, & Beaumes de Venise today. I'm finding truly excellent and affordable wines here. The further south I go, the more robust and serious the wines become. The Northern wines are structured, elegant, delicate beauties. These wines are generally big, fruit driven, and food friendly.

Tonight at the Black & Wine event at Carré Gourmand restaurant in Gigondas, I'm enjoying the 2008 La Syrah de Pénélope Gigondas. A dark and mysterious lady, she exudes a dusty, leathery, dark berry bouquet with flavours of blackberries, vanilla bean & dark chocolate, with firm tannins. She finishes surprisingly softly and satisfies completely. An intriguing lady of Cotê du Rhone.

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