2003 Saint Cosme Cotes-du-Rhone (CDR)

I have had a lot of pruney, syrupy CDR from 2003, but this Saint Cosme (pronounced sahnt comb) is mind-blowing. First, most CDR is a blend and this baby is 100% syrah. I bet it is declassified Gigondas. It keeps showing you so much in the glass, evolving, brooding. Incredible earthiness and purity of syrah fruit. This should retail for about 13-14 bucks; buy it by the case if you can.

Even Robert Parker called it a “total turn-on.”