http://www.santaduc.fr/english/nosvins09.html
A quite pleasant quaffer last night, with all the herbs and earth and licorice I love in Southern Rhone wines. Very dark in color in the decanter, with more ruby color when held up to the light. In addition to the herbs on the nose, there is a very pleasant and interesting "funkyness" that does not become obtrusive. Alcohol is in check-the label reads 13.5% and I did not really taste any heat. The palate is not quite as interesting as the nose-there is a hollowness in the middle of the wine. But still...nice mouth feel overall, good black fruit (hot year?) herbs, smooth tannic structure, some good acid. It would rate higher if I did not get the hollowness, but we all finished the wine! 87 points. I love Rhone.
Also, as part of the Rombauer tasting the winery rep poured a somewhat nice Russian River Pinot-2006 Napomo. Absolutely no web presence, so I know nothing about the wine????? (not under a "Nipomo" spelling, either). Still, this was a quite earthy, smooth, elegant California Pinot that did not, at least not last night, show its 14.6% abv heat. Not bad at all.