Tonight we had an amazing 2014 Rhone Valley Red Blend (Grenache and Syrah) from Vaucluse, France that we bought from Chateau Cellars. I rated this elegant yet complex dark garnet colored beauty a 4.6! For those of you who have been following me, you would notice a 4.6 is definitely a high rating for me but this wine absolutely earned the rating. Chene Bleu Abelard on the nose, has aromas of black fruits like dark plum, black cherry, blackberry along with more subtle aromas of red fruit and black pepper. There were so many layers of flavor on the palette that only evolved the longer it decanted. Beyond the black fruit and fresh ripe red fruit, I tasted layers of oak, vanilla, tobacco, pepper and fig with a mineral and spice finish. While this blend was complex, layered and richly bold it was smooth and perfectly balanced. Absolutely delicious and luscious and would 100% drink again.
