03 Chateau Ollieux-Romanis, Corbieres Cuvee Classique

Catching the wind, perhaps, from the stellar 03 vintage in Rhone, this more southwestern French estate has produced one of the most surprisingly impressive wines of the vintage. Its heady, grapey grenache taste and floral syrah aroma make me think of great 03 Chateauneuf. The wine's rich, but never intrusive, and while the focus is strictly on the plush fruit, this Corbieres is still classically Old World. The finish is mysteriously long, peppery, and acidic. I woke up thinking about it the next day, quickly pouring myself the final glass and drinking it with a loaf of bread for breakfast.