TNs on 2004 Chave Mon Couer CdR?

[Jenise]

I'm a fan of Chave wines but have never had their basic Mon Couer that I can recall. I have a chance to buy a case of the 04 for about half price...it seems like a no-brainer, but I thought I'd ask here first. There are no notes on Cellar Tracker.

I have tried one or two and they were OK, above average, but not at the level of some of their other efforts.
I would try one to see for yourself, but I don't think its a back up the truck kind of wine.

From fall 2006: Rather brawny for a CdR, with solid black cherry and blackberry fruit, a bit of vanilla, and a nice Rhonish grilled meat edge. There's a bit of a tannic backbone, but I think I'll opt to drink these early, as I felt the earlier vintages didn't really gain in complexity. Good if not great value at $14. B/B+

As these are negociant not domaine, hard to compare to other Chaves. The other issue since it is negociant is that blend changes from year to year (sometimes dramatically), though it sounds like there is plenty of Syrah in the '04.

[Jenise]

Thanks Marc and Dale. I didn't have a chance to taste before I bought, so I passed.