2010 Domaine Brunely, Vacqueryras “Tour aux Cailles” Rhone Red, France.
This southern Rhone red, a cuvee of Grenache and Syrah, is a real spicy and savory wine with a nice inner core of black and red fruits. Best to give this intense and powerful some cellar time to let it come around and fill out, as it is very tight and firm still. The nose is dusty and spicy with hints of dried flowers, crushed stones and garrique with subtle fruit essences leading to a dry and robust palate. The mouth is full of plum, boysenberry and dried red currants, but what really stands out is a huge salted black licorice streak that runs through out, from start to finish, along with hints of cracked pepper, lavender and blueberry. This is hardcore wine, and very serious, not as open and pleasing as one might normally expect of the region and vintage, there is some firm tannin that needs a bit of time to resolve, this just might be a stage it is going through and I really liked the tension here and see a potential for this intriguing wine. Drink from 2015-2020.
($32 Est.) 93 Points, grapelive