Cracked this "throwaway" open for dinner last night and was pleasantly surprised:
1. Domaine du RieuFrais Syrah AC: VdP des Coteaux des Baronnies (MeBalP; 12.5%) JeanYves Liotaud/StJalle 1990: Med.color w/ some bricking; rather attractive old Syrah/Hermitage some roasted/toasted/smokey/coffee fairly complex nose; soft/smooth smokey/pungent/roasted/espresso dried rose petal/old Syrah bit coffee/green olive complex flavor; soft slightly dried out/tannic somewhat roasted/smokey/old NorthernRhone/old Hermitage finished; a pleasantly surprising full-mature Rhone.
_____________
And a bit of the BP:
1. Don't recall anything about this wine when I bought it nor anything else, but I probably bought it because I thought it was pretty good Syrah at a great price. I've not seen it in the US market anytime recently. Don't know where I bought it but it was an Oakland importer. They have a WebSite out there: Liotaud
I was (obviously) not expecting anything from this wine and was certain it was dead, hence had it w/ a steamed artichoke (dreadful match).
It was not dead and gone. Though fully mature and probably better a few yrs ago, it had all the character of a fully-mature Hermitage from a good producer. Quite a good wine and still have several btls left.
TomHill