Gros et Jean-Paul Tollot, Domaine Anne
Languedoc/Roussillon, France
Minervois
l'O de la Vie
Syrah
2014
$23.99
13,0%
Murky black core in contrast with the cleaner rust red rims. Pleasingly angular nose of leather, tar and campfire smoke, touch of olive pit, the blackberry to black cherry scents somewhat meager, ends with a nod towards pressed flowers. Medium-bodied, noticeably strong acidity gives it a lean and close to mean feel. The black currant, black cherry fruit dry and comes across as underripe. Violets and grapefruit zest starts to pretty up things, however, all that tarriness and twiggy, leafy underbrush turns things astringent quickly. It's good to make a pure, unadorned wine but if the raw material ain't all that there's little sense in shouting it from the rooftops. (Composite Cork: Diam10)
86 points