1999 Ferraton Pere et Fils Ermitage Le Meal

Jamie came over after the restaurant closed and brought a bottle of 1999 Ferraton Pere et Fils Ermitage Le Meal, which he picked up at the Fountainhead earlier this evening. The bottle had been sitting in his car, so it was cold, but opened with a spicy nose - reminiscent of church incense. Totally closed up on the tongue, but carrying over that churchy, full spiced mouth.

Decanted for a bit, we waited, and warmed the glasses - looked at the wine in the Juliska decanter which Kim had given to me earlier this year. From the Rhone Valley, we thinks the primary grape is Syrah, and it smells and tastes like a Syrah, although not as silky and elegant as the Cuillerons we had in September (see previous blogs).

Upon reading the label, the wine is biodynamic - meaning it is organic plus ten. The vines are planted and treated with the movements of the earth and tides and moon cycles and a bunch of other eco-friendly lets love our Earth Mother and have her provide us some great grapes kinda stuff. We have never had a bad wine made in this fashion, so I have to believe it works.

Bacon fat on the tongue, following with blooming dark fruit, black pepper and smokey Roman Catholic incense. Too early to tell where it is going, but we are both ready for the journey and like the start.