Where did it come from? No idea! What did it cost? None either!
I can only guess this premieres cotes de Blaye was a gift from someone, or maybe Adele or I bought it with the idea of trying, then forgot about it. Anyway sitting on the "rack of misfit toys" next to a 01 Lesparre, I brought it in as a backup.
The Lesparre being oxidised to within an inch of its life, the top brass was brought in. Served with a really fine rare roast beef (20 minutes on full oven) from the talented M. Toulane, who assures this to be a local female yearling (genisse).
Not much in the nose, but beyond a tight front palate the wine opened with much chortling aeration (God forbid we had had guests, children were already sufficiently embarrassed) solid black fruit, graphite, tar and tobacco. Tannic as one might expect but really quite well balanced.
Actually quite enjoyable with the beef, the wine was still very young, and if anyone has any (assuming there was more than the 1 bottle made) it should do quite nicely in 5 or so years. Thanks to the anonymous donor! (Even if it were we...)
-E