Abbaye de Tholomies Minervois Proprietary Blend 2005

This wine is one that only becomes even more intriguing when introduced to air. I decanted this wine and after a couple hours, it had a "WOW" aroma and an even better, amazing experience on the palate. It is one of those wines that you decant, sit down in front of the fire with some great music and contemplate life with. It is an amazing French Red. I will age a couple of these for those special times when my kids are at a huge turning point in their life and we will sit down and contemplate in front of the fire... or on the deck at night in northern MN with the loons and the Northern Lights...

This is a muscular and (yet) tame wine from the South of France. Paired well with turkey meatloaf with herbs and tomato sauce. On opening a tight nose with a mild dusty chocolate and faint fruit aroma. In the mouth has dusty, dry almost bread-like texture with flavors of blackberry and black current, and a hint of chocolate and earth. A good expression of the region, Minervois, part of Languedoc-Roussillon. Body is medium-light, acid and tannins are calm, finish is quite nice after decanting and features the dusty fruit from the mid-palate along with stronger oil and leather further along. As the wine breathed 20 minutes fruit became more pronounced and the oil, earth, and leather emerged more strongly. Price as tested, $8, makes it quite a good value compared to any California or Australian equivalents. Apellation Minervois Controlee.