Terre Vivante - Assemblage Rouge 2007, KUONEN

This is a huge wine. A blend of 20% Pinot Noir, 20% Cornalin, 20% Syrah, 30% Diolinoir and 10% Humagne Rouge. Each is vinified separately in stainless steel then the assemblage is made and the result aged in French oak. The colour is a deep cherry, with a nose of jammy cooked fruits, vanilla, spice and pencilbox/cedarwood. The palate is somewhat more intense than the nose suggests, powerful and gamey with masses of fruit, cooked red fruit, prunes, crunchy bramble/black fruits and smokiness. Long dry finish, spicy and gamey, with vanilla and oak coming through at the end. A superb wine best drunk with food. Serve at 14-16°C with pheasant, steak, wild boar, or even very mildly spiced Thai or Malaysian foods.