2007 Dard & Ribo Saint-Joseph 13.0%
A hipster (but not hippie) wine previously unavailable in the US, now imported by Louis/Dressner. Very cool black and unmarked but plastic (thumbs down) cork. Aromas are rubber, iodine, blackberries, pine resin and something herbal dancing around. Excellent acidity, good body, juicy, almost creamy. Becomes kind of exotic with air, almost oriental (whatever that means). Not much in the way of syrah pepper or sweat. Secondary fermentation bubbles are present in a minor way, but enough to detract from the experience (for me, anyway). Marcia likes it a lot, calls it "strong but not heavy." I enjoyed it, but don't quite see the elements for cult status. I want my animale! Cost/benefit is stretching it at $35; from that angle I prefer the 96 Chamonard Morgon from yesterday and the 05 Courtois Racines from the day before, both in the $20s.
