Domaine de Baruel Cuvée Fontanilles 1998

Domaine de Baruel Cuvée Fontanilles (VdP des Cevennes) 1998: A deep, inky red-black hue, still showing some youth. A warm and open nose, with lovely ripe berry, smoke and black pepper notes from this 100% Syrah cuvee. The palate follows in a similar vein; ripe, full of extract with spicy, dark berry fruit. Soft and ample texture, underpinned and plenty of structure and sharp acids. Firm, dry tannic finish with a little length. There is good potential here. Drink over the next ten years (and beyond I suspect). 16.5+/20 (25/10/04)