I picked up the bottle of DoubleD. I knew the producer was from California, but the shape of the bottle suggested this vintage could only be Northern Rhone. The only thing I was fairly certain about was this was not an over-priced, under-whelming bottle from Temecula. I was intrigued, and eventually decided it worth the risk. I mean, I’m just tasting it, not marrying it, right? I poured a skoosh into a large-bowled glass. After a cursory swirl, sniff, and glance at the color (yeah, I was posing, whatever), I took a sip. It was…unusual. But I’m a wine novice, so what do I know? Maybe it would develop in the glass. I waited a while. The next sip was much better: interesting, complex, and nuanced, with just a hint of fruit. I waited again, and then drank again. It was excellent. There was no pretense, and it wasn’t stylized. Rather, the producers got out of the way, and let the fundamental character of ingredients specific to the region shine through. There was some decent age to it, and moderate alcohol content. I could drink this all day long. I suspected it would pair perfectly with the red meat I was grilling. The finish was long yet mellow, enjoyable yet not overpowering. I want more. Lots more.
