Three Wine Reviews

Domaine Francois Lurton, Barco Negro, 2005
Color: Super-dense plum
Aroma: Smokey, raisins and tobacco (kind of the scent of of a cigar store), hints of pomegranate and spices (mace?), the overwhelming flavors though are jalepenos and juicy raspberries
Flavor: medium bodied (much lighter than expected), black pepper, plush tannins, slightly oniony flavor, mashed blackberries
Finish: bitter chocolate, vanilla, and goji berries
Rating: 88 Price: $12

Chateau Bel Air, St-Estephe, 2003
Color: ?
Aroma: Plums, sweet raspberry, green pepper and a hint of gaminess
Flavor: Overwhelming current on the mid palate, soft (somewhat insubstantial) tannins, medium body
Finish: Licorice and oak

Domaine de la Petite Cassagne, Costieres de Nimes (Rhone), 2006
Color: Dense and clear straw
Aroma: Strong cheese flavor (Gouda?), overripe mango, slightly yeasty
Flavor: Hints of pineapple, some ginger with soy sauce and mustard
Finish: Very strong ginger, soft apple and floral flavors, nothing mind-blowing
Rating: 82 Price: $9