WTN: Soumade, Oratoire St Martin and Reserve de la Comtesse

Domaine de l'Oratoire St. Martin Cuvee Prestige Cairanne 2004 - Drank a bit at lunch then finished it at dinner. Notes from dinner. Dark. Sweet, rich and plummy. Very round and soft. Dry finish, though. Not too interesting by itself but a very good match for chicken with financiere stuffing.

Domaine la Soumade Rasteau Cuvee Confiance 2002 - Like the Oratoire, tried a bit at lunch then kept in the fridge till dinner. Notes from dinner. Very dark. Ripe fruits on the nose. Notable bright acidity. Very clean wine. Moderately long and very dry finish. Nice and easy by itself but not a great match with the chicken.

Reserve de la Comtesse 2003 - Very dark. Good perfume. Very dry and a bit spicy. Soft, lush, ready. This is singing right now but will probably stay where it is for some time. Excellent with lamb.

Back when we had '03s from Bx still available, I found the R de la C to be one of the more successful from what I found to be a difficult year. It did have a bit of that roasted/hot year character, but also much of the lovely greenish and violet perfume of the Pichon-Comtesse - I almost bought a bottle to age a couple years. I'm happy to hear it has turned out well.

-O