I've been eyeing a bottle in my rack for a couple of days now, the whereabouts of purchase/procurement I've been unable to recall. I finally opened it tonight and it was a very nice surprise. The initial appearance was offputting...somewhat muddled brick with crystaline particles floating about (I always thought that those crystals were mainly found in white wines as a result of a either a flawed filtration or sterilization process). However, the nose immediately reassured me, with slightly pungent notes of tobacco, chocolate and some barnyard leaping from the glass. The palate is very balanced, although not as round and full as I would have expected. Earthy and smoky with a nice enough acidity and slightly rustic yet subdued tannins. I think this will go beautifully with some smoked ribs, which I'm planning on picking up for dinner tomorrow night from a local restaurant.
I'm pretty sure I picked this bottle up at a local wine event called the Washington Wine and Cheese Seminar back a few months ago, but I recall paying only about $15. When I do a Wine Searcher search, I find it nowhere in the DC area and for about $25-$30 where it is being sold. And I also recall purchasing two bottles, but the second is nowhere to be found...