Old world red , 2003 La Gardine Chateauneuf du Pape

My wife and I have been to this town.....we were lucky to get a hotel room in this tiny but supremely famous source for the best grenache-based blends in the world.Whe we were there the dollar was strong so we got to really try many of the Chateauneuf du Papes that we can rarely afford now. La Gardine is one of our favorites and its earthy taste isn't like any of the new world versions of the same blend of grapes . It is impossible to compare the original with California versions, although the local editions can be outstanding. While not overly fruity and alcoholic like California wines , this wine posesses a wonderful array of flavors that speak of the lavendar and soil of the area....something you'll have a tough time picking out from say ,a zin with %16 alcohol. While the zin is a real treat by itself, La Gardine is really part of dinner. At $ 36.95 this wine will have to be a special occasion bottle. I give it 9.5 swiggs.