Laurent Miquel, Saint Chinian, Syrah Reserve, 2000

From the bottle, the Saint Chinian is produced from grapes harvested in the Languedoc region of France. It has been aged for 12 months in French oak barrels and is 13.5% alcohol by volume.

Where did I find it: A gift

What did I pair it with: Pre-dinner tasting

Appearance: Deep, dark, reddish black with brown hues

Smell: At first it was heavily barnyard, though with about an hour of aeration it began to shows signs of spice and mushrooms.

Taste: The tannins are light, but given the lovely velvet spices, wooden licorice and slow sour cherry finish, it makes up for the lack of tannins.

Price: $10.00
Quality rating: 87/100
Value rating: 48.50/60

Takeaway: This is the fourth time I tried the wine, the last time about a year ago. This wine is probably a shade past its peak, but is still pretty good, and would match well with fine cheeses.