Joël Taluau St Nicolas de Bourgueil Cuvée du Domaine 2000

Joël Taluau St Nicolas de Bourgueil Cuvée du Domaine 2000: A fine colour here, a glossy cherry red of moderate depth, showing the very barest hints of early maturity. Lovely, mature, expressive nose, with notes of bay leaf and green peppercorn alongside some meaty, stony black fruit. Fine, chalky texture on entry, lovely acid structure, very clean and pebbly through the midpalate, leading to a little bite of tannin on the finish. Quite a reserved, minerally yet juicy finish. Should improve over the next two or three years at least, but is lovely to drink now. Very good indeed. 17.5+/20 (20/3/06)