WTN: Terres des Templiers Rancio Sec NV...(short/boring)

Tried this last night:
1. Terres des Temploers Rancio Sec Dry Amber Wine Vin de Pays de la Cote Vermeille (GrenacheNoir; U/U; 16.5%; HausAlpenz/Edina/MN; www.Alpenz.com) Rousillon NV: Rather burnished bronze/amber/slightly garnet color; rather dusty/earthy quite oxidized/aldehydic/bit Amontillado-like some burnt hazelnuts rather aged quite complex nose; quite tart dry/austere rather oxidized/sherry-like/aldehydic burnt hazelnuts rather bitter/astringent very complex flavor w/ some bitter/astringent tannins; very long/lingering quite oxidized/aldehydic/burnt hazelnuts very dry/austere rather bitter/astringent very complex finish w/ light astringent tannins; quite painful to drink on its own. $30.00 (CB)
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. HausAlpenz (www.Alpenz.com) has an incredibly bizarre selection of...beverages. All sorts of weird vermouth, alpine liquors, etc. The Site is really worth taking a look at. The only "wines" they seem to carry are Rancios from Rousillon.
This is a genre that is rapidly approaching extinction. The wine is fermented out, probably late harvest, unfortified; then put into glass demijohns and left in the sun for a number of yrs. It is then transferred to partially-filled barrels and aged at least 5 yrs in a solera system.
The wine is very painful to drink on its own. Excruciating to taste for this TN. It is a wine that demands food. I had it w/ fresh figs w/ GorgonzolaDolce topped w/ bacon and drenched in bacon fat. That toned the Rancio a bit. But it probably would go best w/ Spanish tapas, hot/spicy Vietnamese dishes, or hot Mexican cusine.
This is a wine that very few wine drinkers would find any redeeming features in. You have to think outside the box to serve this wine.
Tom

That is a very interesting oddity. I have never before heard of Rancio sec, let alone tasted it. I would be curious to try but am not in a hurry given your TN. Most wines matured like that in glass demijohns are sweet, I think, and I guess that would make for better balance. The estate website recommends the wine with anchovies!

That is a very interesting oddity. I have never before heard of Rancio sec, let alone tasted it. I would be curious to try but am not in a hurry given your TN. Most wines matured like that in glass demijohns are sweet, I think, and I guess that would make for better balance. The estate website recommends the wine with anchovies!

Yup, Tim....definitely a wine only for the adventurous. Not pleasant to taste on its own but only w/ food.
I've had 3-4 over the yrs, all from DarrellCorti. They're an acquired taste and I wouldn't work very hard
to acquire it, Tim.
Tom

left in the sun for a number of yrs

Hey! Maybe my wine damaged??? by the air conditioning failure should just be considered to be a rancio sec?