Tasting - Charles Brotte

• Name: Charles Brotte
• Variety: Syrah
• Region: Rhone Valley
• Country: France
• Year: 2011
• Price: $9.99
• Market Street Wineshops Review: This delightful French red is a spectacular value. It's 100% Syrah from the fine Chateauneuf Du Pape house Maison Brotte. Wine guru Robert Parker loves their lineup of Chateauneufs, so we know the estate is capable of making fine wine, and we flipped when we discovered this fresh, bright red bottled only for importer Monsieur Touton. Smooth and gluggable, it has enough character to keep it interesting bottle after bottle.
• My Review: This wine was not with the beer tasting of the past four posts, this is a bottle that I purchased at a local wine shop out of curiousity and am now going to review it.  On the nose this wine was very complex, it had mulberries and other assorted berries, vanilla, and a strange kind of musty smell that hit lightly in the back of the throat.  Upon tasting this wine I noticed a light tinge of tannins on my tongue but not nearly as strong as most other Syrahs.  It was very smooth, it just rolled down the throat nice and easy which made it very easily drinkable.  The flavors were definitely very cherry and also strong on the spices.  And the color was a nice violet color when held to the light.  This was a cheap, light, and very nice wine, especially for the price.
• Food: I tried it with a sandwhich at home made of roast beef and cheese.  I put the food in my mouth, chewed it up, and then sloshed in a little wine to absorb it into all the food.  It was actually a very good combination.  It enhanced the flavors of the meat and actually seemed to make the wine a little sweeter.