Mont Olivet, Cotes-du-Rhone, 2006. $15-$17

Origin as closely as possible, 6pts.: Cotes du Rhone

Light ruby color, red berry fruit profile, moderate minus soft tannin, good mid-market quality (moderate persistence on finish, light complexity of garrigue character), high alcohol (14%) point to Southern Rhone, Vacqueryas, Lirac, Cotes du Rhone. Primary red fruit character, moderate persistence on finish and simple style confirm Cotes du Rhone.

Identify predominant variety or varieties, 6pts: Grenache, Syrah

Translucent ruby color, garrigue aromatics, fine-grained moderate minus tannin, raspy mid-palate with moderate acidity, raspberry framboise flavor profile points to Grenache dominant wine. Light brambly character and ripe black plum aromatics indicates use of Syrah. High alcohol (14%) and use of inert wood vessel consistent.

Identify vintage, giving reasons and discuss wine's potential for future development, 8pts:

Youthful, bright translucent ruby color, fresh plum character indicate 2-3 years old. High alcohol points to ripe vintage 2006, 2007. Lacks baked fruit intensity of hot and dry 2007 vintage. 2006 by cooler August weather than 2007, which allowed for full phenolic and sugar ripeness, some rain near harvest prevented over ripe fruit character found in 2007.

Drink now for fruit purity, but has some tannin and good fruit intensity to hold in bottle another 3-4 years, though lacks fruit concentration and more intense garrigue elements to develop further complexity.

I originally had this wine in Vacqueryas, as it is a much better example of Cotes-du-Rhone than I usually taste. So I'm not quite sure how to funnel it down to CdR over Vacqueryas or Lirac.