Le Grand Noir

I found this French blend in Seattle, when I worked at Cost Plus World Market. I was initially interested because it combined my two favorite grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz, and then because it was an affordable $10.00. Not to mention, it has such a cute sheep on the label.

On initial sniff, the nose is a little spicy and earthy. There is a slight astringency, but mellowed by the fruitfulness. The aroma is delightfully inviting and the deep red tones are visually appealing.

On first sip you get a big, deep, robust berry flavor. As the wine moves around over your tongue, so do the flavors. Second sip brings up notes of currant and a subtle finish of licorice lingers.

The alcohol levels are well balanced and leaves a nice flavor on the palate. This wine struggles because it wants to be really bold, but it has too short of a finish to really pull that off.

For a $10 wine, this is a great option. It has a somewhat complex flavor profile, enough going on to hold your attention, and is great to drink solo or with food. Delicious with a well spiced pork dish, beef stew or a great homemade chili.

On a personal note, I first tried this wine a few years back, in 2008 or 2009 and thought it was the cats meow. I liked that there were multiple flavors going on and admittedly, I wasn't as well versed in the world of wine back then. So trying Le Grand Noir again a few years and many bottles of wine later, I was interested to see if it still held the same spark. I have to admit, it didn't dance for me the way it did the first time around, but it was good enough that I'll be back to World Market to pick up another one! It's great to learn and to grow, but maybe sometimes ignorance is bliss. Or at least ignorance keeps your wine budget low.