2002 La Gomerie

Good deep red. Currant, mocha, lead pencil, minerals and smoky oak on the enticing nose, with hints of toffee and caramel. Fairly ripe fruit hints at pepper and herbs around the edges. Strong acidity frames and carries the fruit, but gives the finish a faintly edgy quality. Less dense than the '04.

Some of my earlier reservations about over-extraction and hard tannin appear to be unfounded. The medium-bodied, supple-textured, charming, well-balanced 2002 is presently revealing a sweet perfume of black cherries, currants, figs, plums, and smoky oak. It is ideal for drinking over the next 7-8 years. This 6.2-acre vineyard planted with 30-year old 100% Merlot vines can produce some of Bordeaux’s sexiest, most voluptuous wines. Given its heavy, sandy soils atop the famed Crasse de Fer, I am surprised it did so well in 2003. The vinification is impeccable as this wine receives such garagiste/Burgundian techniques as malolactic in barrel, aging on its lees, and no filtration at bottling. Oddly enough, when such ancient Burgundy winemaking techniques are used outside of France’s Cote d’Or, they are called “international, modern-styled winemaking” ... try and figure that out.

Dark red. Sexy, high-toned aromas of cherry, raspberry, cocoa powder, minerals and oak. Cool, juicy and minerally; not especially fleshy but intensely flavored and pure. Edgy acidity and strong oakiness give this a slight toughness, but the tannins are fairly fine.