WTN: 2009 Mas Champart Saint Chinian

I played hooky yesterday and bicycled from Suisun City to Berkeley. Luckily, Kermit Lynch was right en-route to the Berkeley Capital Corridor train station (yeah, socialist trains!), so I stopped, intending to pick up a Cru Beaujo or cheap Chinon.

Instead, based on a reco from the staff, I grabbed this GSM blend from Saint Chinian in Languedoc.

Somehow, I was able to schlepp the bottles on my bicycle to the station without a mishap. I felt guilty as I did not give a beggar trying to cadge a free train ticket ($16!!!) any money, but... Nice end to a somewhat strenuous day. (There are quite a few hills between central Solano County and bayside Berkeley!)

Yum! Brilliant berry fruit, plenty of garrigue, fantastic silky-and-grainy mouth feel (probably the grenache?). But what really stood out was this bright CITRUS character that really took the typical French Mediterranean flavor profile to another level. I can see slurping this with barbecue this summer. Really nice!

Acidity for the win!

fact sheet from Kermit says this is 65% Syrah. Makes sense now...the meaty, citrus, high acid character. I think the hint of Grenache (10%) gives it the grainy tannins, though.