2010 - Domaine Le Clos des Fees, Cotes du Roussillon Villages La Petite Siberie

After having spent 14 months in new barrels, Bizeul’s 2010 Cotes du Roussillon Villages La Petite Siberie delivers strong caramelized resin, vanilla and brown spices up-front, with cocoa powder and smoky black tea further accenting its sweetly ripe, thickly-rich, black raspberry and cherry confiture. That the palate here manages to display such sheer lusciousness and the finish persistent sap and polish is no doubt a tribute to this wine’s sheer density and concentrated ripeness. That said, my lips are numbed thereafter by the effect of wood tannins and my salivary glands remain unmoved. For those who place greatest emphasis on mid-palate fat and seamless advanced ripeness of fruit this will harbor more appeal that it did for me – but I certainly can’t help but be impressed by those virtues.