The 1995 M. Chapoutier Cote-Rotie from the Brune et Blonde Vineyards scored 19 Dionysian points out of 20, was 12.8%  alcohol, and back then cost under $35 .

This 27 year old wine is near peak and was filled with black fruit, floral notes and tobacco.

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The Blonde & Brunette Vineyards in Northern Rhone are considered among the very best sites for Syrah. Also note that Chapoutier labels are printed with braille for the blind.

Wines like this can stand up to almost any big dish, but I wanted to showcase the wine, not the meal, so we did meatloaf.

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Basic meatloaf, sweet potato fries, and garden peas permitted this great red Rhone to be the feature of the meal! The meatloaf brought out all the Syrah’s flavors.

This is why I encourage everyone to cellar some wines. In vino veritas.