(First tasting note for this wine?  That surprises me)

Decanted 2 hours.  Slightly odd nose, strong floral notes and maybe a hint of reduction (but nothing like the severe sulphur and rubber some have reported with this vintage of Alesia).  Color is intense red with a fair amount of pinkishness to the hue.  This wine isn't super dark, but seems to have a staining quality to it -- the legs have a lot of color to them.  Palate is full and rich.   Some candy, sweet tannins, and cassis and other dark fruits.  I might have guessed this to be a cabernet if it was served blind. Finish is nice, longish, and has a significant lingering coconut aspect.

Returned the remaining half to the bottle (this threw a fair amount of sediment, BTW) and left it in the cellar overnight. Day two, much of the intense forward fruit has dissipated. What remains is a much more apparently structured wine with more evident (and astringent) tannins, more pronounced acidity, and more of a classic Syrah profile. There's still a thick, long finish.

It's fairly backwards at this point.

$42.00, Mailing List.

A nice bottle of wine. One can drink or hold, either is fine @ this point. The wine hides nothing, kind of simple & straight-forward & @ the same time a solid bottle of wine, very nice & very enjoyable.

Rating: 89 points, drink or hold.