This is worth calling out: What we have here is a very good, ageable Bordeaux that costs less than $20 (most places). If you've got some place to keep wine where the temperature is cool and consistent, keep a couple bottles of this.

The color is a deep garnet that makes a good first impression. It looks as full as most Americans did on Nov. 29th.

The nose is closed up right now, but sweet black cherry and cedar/oak came out right away. An hour after the bottle was opened, mocha, mint and earth also came through. On day two of being opened, anise dominated the nose, with all the other elements just behind it.

In the mouth, this youngin' is tongue-drying, cheek-grabbing tannic wine. The black cherry, oak and earth are there on the palate, but it's a little early for the other flavors to show. However, the finish is long, and I have faith that they will shine by the holiday season in 2004. Think of it as a very early present to yourself.

Cheers,
TSW

It was Thanksgiving (sponsored by Weight Watchers) in America last week. The story is that as long as 50 years ago, pilgrims came to the new world. Their farming skills were on par with their fashion sense (buckles on their hats?) so they almost all starved to death during the first winter.

Now, each November as the weather starts getting cold, Americans celebrate that time by eating and drinking as much as we possibly can, symbolically ensuring that we survive another winter.

Because of this, a lot of us may not want to eat or drink much of anything right now. Chateau Fontenil's 1999 red needs two years of bottle age before you get into it. By then, you just might be ready to attempt caloric intake again.