Yesterday, Bill, one of my favorite wine vendors, bailed me out of a foul mood by presenting me with an item I would've gone gaga for if I knew it existed in the first place.

Jean Louis Chave, a prominent winemaker from southern France, makes an outstanding St. Joseph called Offerus. I got to smile broadly over it the first time way back before the unCivil War, when I was an accounting jockey for the great froggie importer and merchant Kermit Lynch of Berzerkeley CA fame. This particular quaff was heralded before its arrival and slushed up with continual praise til the last drop, which didn't last long. I only scored a few bottles, less than a case even, at the time.

Bill swooped in on that foulest of foul mornings to pour not only the Offerus, but a Chave cote du rhone! I was flubbered and sooo pleased I made sure that we got a case of the CdR and a smattering of the lovely Offerus.

Chave Cote du Rhone 2003
Wonderful rich nose of ripe dark seed fruit with a dense and viscous yet bright palate of even deeper character and flavorful cherries and cocoa and lusciousness. The tannic support picks up all the nuances of the master winemaker finessing the fruit to seduce you for all the sun and voluptuosness of a something something that only most fine figures a la Juliet Brinoche/Audrey Tatou can provide (oh-so-yum).

Chave St Joseph Offerus 2002
Fantastic deeply rich nose with a full mouth palate of amazingly rich and dimensional berries and brambles and textured earthinesses. The charm of the fruit and the density of the palate are wonderfully supported by the brilliantly structured tannins and finish. This is the well loved smile of Isabella Rossellini in a glass, elegant and appealing with charm and finesse j ne sais qua. Yes.

wowed,
~d