We cooked a big pot of black beans this week. With some marinated sirloin, black beans and grilled onion fajitas we drank the 2004 Emmanuel Darnaud Crozes-Hermitage Les Trois Chênes . It worked pretty well with the food. Fairly ripe blackberry fruit with beef blood, just a touch of oak around the edge. The wood spice was subtle and I didn't mind it. Worsted texture in the mouth with good acidity and chunky tannins that finishes with a little bitterness. The second day this was still very tasty, if a little softer. The flavors changed to black olive, herb and some animal. This has a few youthful rough edges, but has the makings of a good wine. 12.8% abv. ~$24. Good Crozes Hermitage with a nod towards Cornas. A little challenging at the moment, maybe try another bottle in another 3-4 years.
With the leftovers we made a black bean soup flavored with smoked bacon and a shot of Worcestershire sauce.
To wash down the soup we opened a bottle of the 2004 Pierre Gonon St Joseph . This is pretty expressive with pure clean red fruit, that with air gets a little smoky. Almost silky texture with soft tannins. High acidity but not too much, just the right amount with the soup. Very good bottle, stylish. The fine smooth texture with the bright acidity reminded me more of young Cote Rotie than St Joseph. Very good right now, although the initial fruit in the nose closed up after an hour of being open. 13% abv. ~$24. This was a great match with the soup. My wife and I both liked the Gonon more than the Darnaud at the moment, but I would buy both of them again.
Marc