Try this wine and you are guaranteed at least a “hmmmm.”  Think dark berries, must, tobacco, even a little bit of old leather; picture an old library, close your eyes and take a deep breath.  There are no tropical fruits or florals here. 

I was drawn to seek out a Rhône for today because I recently heard a bit about 2005’s having been a killer year for the region, and I certainly wasn’t disappointed when the time came to taste. 

For the price, it’s a great value – if anything, I’m tempted to buy yet another bottle, stick it into a cellar for a few years and then give it another whirl.  For now, though, this firmly structured, full-bodied wine is definitely a good bottle for cozying up to on a cool winter’s evening.