Chateau Coupe Roses, Minervois (Languedoc, France) 2015

 This offering from Languedoc sits invitingly dark and brooding in the glass. Seductive aromas of earth, compost and barnyard waft up, and on the palate it is herbal and spice-laden, with hints of dark berries.  At first tasting the wine seemed to me a little short on the finish, but it opened up beautifully once food was introduced (in this case a juicy duck breast garnished with olives and grapes) — proving once again that tasting wine without food is an incomplete experience.  One thing I can say for sure about “Bastide” is that it’s a wine with plenty of personality.