Bastide Blanche, Cuvee Fontanieu, 2004 Bandol

Purple/red.

Clay/earth, game/sausage, licorice, fig/date, deep nose.

Round and dense in the mouth, with a bit more refinement and less brute power than the 2001 (not necessarily a good thing).
Still nicely loaded, with relatively fine tannin constricting the iron-laden finish. Distinctive Mourvedre.

Day 3 - Deep blackberry/earth/fig aromas, some hazelnut too. Definitely finely-rendered, with tannin a bit more forceful today. This will be around for some time. As usual, a great deal.

Day 7 - Deep, no sign of oxidation, clay/pepper nose. Pepper/citrus flavors, deep, packed and huge, chewy length. This rocks - best day yet. Earl B. does it again. I wonder how these wines fare in the various wine publications? Not well, based on the price. Buy it and chew on some lamb.

$25