Sensory profile Picture formal male eveningwear, an intense brocade of ruby-dark weave, intriguing and mysterious, its mesmerising progress leaving behind on the crystal generous traces of its saturated fullness. Difficult to plumb at first glance, its vibrant emissions, the gift of a blood-like circulation of lymph, stimulate a desire for discovery and are a guarantor of promises maintained. A first approach encounters velvety exhalations, then warm intimations of fruit, spice, and gamey essences that break the sensory bonds of the taster and waft him high into the terrestrial hemisphere. Its warm embrace abounds in smooth vanilla, coriander, and coconut, in the excitement of veined leather, in pipe tobacco and cocoa powder, in the supple liveliness of blackberry, raspberry, and cherry preserves, and in the subtle encounter of black liquorice and carob, sensory adventures that mark the way-stations of its progress. That journey takes place in a context of enfolding intimacy, of an aromatic dialogue that bestows contented well-being. As the innate continuation of this all-encompassing headiness, the palate opens dense and harmonious in its play of components; liqueurous, fully-ripe fruit enveloped in a silky tastiness, suspended over a capillary minerality, drives the palate downwards with a pleasure-emitting dynamism. The integration between the tactile, olfactory, and taste components rarely produce such a generous and representative experience of the various “souls” of this “sweet and wild” grape variety. It exhibits, in the mouth, such noble balance and regal revelation that it fully justifies meditative sipping for the most refined pleasure.

Pairings If it is to be enjoyed in synergy with food, the choice would fall on innovative partnerings, on creative fusions that tend to be meaty, spicy, and delicately fat-rich. It belongs too with its region’s always-exciting classics—stewed game, stuffed veal and fowl, and aromatic-rinded, raw-milk mountain cheeses.