Oustal Blanc, Domaine de l'
Languedoc/Roussillon, France
Minervois
Giocoso
Blend
2013
$12.99
15.0%
Full ruby-violet color, bright and spotless, the rims a more effulgent magenta, looks bottled yesterday. Plummy nose with nutmeg, cinnamon spice, candied orange peel, pressed flowers, slight dusting of cocoa powder, fills out with damp leather, damp and pushes out to fill your nostrils. Medium-bodied, big musk of lilacs and violets, same mint, baking spices and sour orange peel. The acidity is weak but tannins able to accrue enough to lay a cornerstone. The chocolate and vanilla add friendliness without making it overly earnest to please. Candied and close to liqueur character to the strawberry, raspberry, red cherry fruit, soaks into the palate. Cedary finish, pulls up a touch short. Perfume lasts well after the palate weight is gone. 65% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 15% Carignan.
88 points