2005 Charles Joguet Chinon "Les Petites Roches"
This cuvée is ideally consumed young, so I thought I was pushing my luck a bit to hold it this long. I have had several other vintages of this wine, but all consumed within 5-6 years of vintage date. Opened last night to accompany lamb tacos, I was pleasantly surprised what an interesting place this wine is in. There is a faint bit of tart, dark brambly fruit, which became more assertive the longer it was open. The thing that was so unique was the overwhelming smoky, herbal notes enveloping the nose and palate. It reminded me strongly of black cardamom pods and charred Ancho chiles. Structurally it was very balanced, with pleasant tannin and acid to balance the 13.5% alcohol. What a fun combination with dinner! I probably wouldn't hold this wine much longer, and generally enjoy the freshness of younger Chinon, but this was a fun experiment in aging.