38. M. Chapoutier, Côtes-du-Rhône Belleruche, 1999

55 FRF; 13.5%

Black pepper – a lot. Quite gum-dry, suggesting relatively high tannin levels. Should age OK for a year-or-two. Another fine Belleruche from Chapoutier. Black fruit flavour for this dark-ish wine, but not jammy. Hint of burned sugar on the aroma, I think, on the back-end of the peppery aroma. I’d love to get hold of a 1998…