2003 Eddie Feraud Chateauneuf du Pape
This is some wild shit, combining intense aromas of cherry liqueur, mature port, hung wild game, cranberry compote, lavender, briny sea breezes, and wet-dog in a heady brew that is head-turning and borderline bizarre. The "savage" side of CDP, to be sure. There's a cooked, stewy, pruney bouquet that undoubtedly reflects the torrid vintage conditions, and would sure to be very divisive in a room full of tasters. It is big, fleshy, high alcohol, and sweet to taste but not flabby at all oddly, and there's these truly unusual flavors of a fruit-wine-spice-reduction sauce. Maybe Amarone can do stuff like this. Given how unusual it is, some would surely find it undrinkable, but in part for the reasonable $25 I paid, I'm enjoying this (although it's nearly unimaginable to have to drink multiple glasses in a row). Would pair well with lamb or even better with wild game or pheasant.
