BAM
and BAM
That’s what happens when a pickup driver with NY state license plate RN 2xx (I won’t reveal the real license plate number. That might be uncool.) doesn’t clean out the inside of their pickup and a sheet of ice as big as my windshield flies through the air at 40 mph and crashes into my windshield. Oddly, the driver was going 15 mph below the speed limit, but as soon as that thing hit my car, she sped off. I tried to catch her and accelerated to 60 and honked my horn for a mile behind her. (Yes, I know the owner’s name.) But she didn’t want to have anything to do with it. So, my safety senses came to me and I pulled over. Anyway, that was Saturday afternoon. Today it’s Monday, and I worked from home because I have no car to drive. Thanks RN 2xx.
In the meanwhile, it’s time for Domain Les Grands Bois Côtes Du Rhone Cuvee Les Trois Sœurs 2009. What makes a Cotes du Rhone a Cotes du Rhone? It has to come from the Rhone region in France. And cuvee means “vat” or “tank,” but it has come to mean blend. And I guess in this case, Les Trois Sœurs, it’s a blend of three sisters.
But not a blend of Twisted Sisters. Oi.
So what’s in this cuvee? Since it’s from the Rhone region, it will probably have Syrah, and if it’s from the Southern Rhone region it will probably have Grenache and maybe some Syrah and/or Mouverdre. A little research tells me this is 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah, and 10% Carignan (pronounced karen yawn). A little more research tells me this winery is in the Southern Rhone region near the towns of Cairanne and Rasteau.
Cairanne and Rasteau are in the middle. Click the map to see it bigger.
(For more information, http://www.terroir-france.com/wine/cdr_map_south.htm.)
I think it’s wine drinking time.
First words out of my mouth were, “Oh, this smells f***ing good.” It’s deep, as deep as its dark ruby color. It smells juicy and fruity. There are some flowers, too. It smells well blended.
I picked up burning wood on the nose right as I took a sip. I thought of Northern Idaho in the winter. Specifically, Sandpoint, Idaho.
The Bridge to Sand Point, Idaho. Click the image to see it bigger.
But I usually think of the town with all the great restaurants and bars with great beers and food.
For a small town, it has so much good food. In fact, you won’t Stay Hungry in Sandpoint.
The wine is bit drier than I expected, but yummy with dark berries and dark fruits. I also get some earthiness. And it finishes with some dark chocolate, bitterness, and chalkiness.
Oh, what a fun wine this is, and it’s only $15 at Mahan’s.
Actually, this is pretty big for a Rhone. I like it. It will go good with chicken in garlic sauce.
So I’m going to say 89 points and really pushing 90 for this one. Good stuff.//
