WTN: Domaine Grosset Cairanne 2004

Cotes Du Rhone-Villages.

A blend of Grenache (50 per cent), Syrah (25) and Mourvedre.

A rather dirty and hot nose.

Very thick and creamy, rich black cherry and raspberry fruit, smoky, a bit hot, with the heat and shrillness increasing toward the finish.

A tart, hot finish.

An okay wine, except for the heat which, I assume, comes from the 13.5 per cent alcohol - a tad high for a French wine IMHO. It also wasn't what I had been expecting from a Cotes Du Rhone-Villages wine. I had been expecting something lighter, with more fresh, lip-smacking and juicy raspberry fruit and spices. I had not been expecting the very thick and almost syrupy wine that this turned out to be.

Purchased at $17.95 (Canadian).

An okay wine, except for the heat which, I assume, comes from the 13.5 per cent alcohol - a tad high for a French wine IMHO..

France is a relatively big country. They get a lot more sun and ripeness down in Cairanne than they do in Jasnieres.

That is in fact the main reason why I don't drink many Southern French wines, so I don't have lots of data, but 13.5% doesn't sound outlandish for a Southern French wine these days.

An okay wine, except for the heat which, I assume, comes from the 13.5 per cent alcohol - a tad high for a French wine IMHO..

France is a relatively big country. They get a lot more sun and ripeness down in Cairanne than they do in Jasnieres.

That is in fact the main reason why I don't drink many Southern French wines, so I don't have lots of data, but 13.5% doesn't sound outlandish for a Southern French wine these days.

True, but I still seem to recall a time when wines from the south were around 12 or 12.5 per cent. Of course, some wines can handle big alcohol, regardless of where they are grown, and some, like this one, don't fare as well.

True, but I still seem to recall a time when wines from the south were around 12 or 12.5 per cent..

Yes. I guess times are a changin'