Late last week there was an impromptu meal of a very thick cut pork chop seasoned and slowly roasted on the grill before being seared and browned at the last minute.
It took some time for the meat to cook so we contented ourselves with a Chapoutier Belleruche and some appetizers.
When it came time to eat the surprise for the evening was a 1998 Chapoutier La Sizeranne Hermitage. Northern Rhone Syrah based wines are one of two places that would contend to be my desert island wines, the other being Barolo and Barbaresco.
This one was certainly not a disappointment. Smoky and meaty nose with just a hint of funky barnyard, and that hint left rather quickly. There was a little age showing on the edges with the beginning of browning, but otherwise is was still a young looking wine. Intense gamey flavors with some smoke and a definite savoriness that matched well with the pork. Wonderful length to a finish that still showed some tannin and good acid to refresh the mouth. Very much on the savory side of red wine and probably not everyone's choice, but I loved it.
13% alcohol and somewhere in the $70 range on the internet.
No comments:
Post a Comment