Three Blind Mice -- Red Rhone-Style Wines

Red Rhone-style wines from France, Australia and a California/French blend, tasted double blind

• 2001 Mas de Boislauzon Châteauneuf-du-Pape - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
  Light red color; minor cherry notes; brett; very short finish; nothing left here (85 pts.)
• 2008 Tensley Détente - Mixed, USA/France, California/Rhone
  Winner of a blind tasting of three red-rhone style wines; full body with excellent complexity and balance; great fruit; long finish (92 pts.)
• 1998 d'Arenberg The Ironstone Pressings - Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
  lighter red colors; licorice notes, with modest cherry flavors; full body (89 pts.)

Ken:
#1 CDP: Streamlined and very precise; black cherry; can't figure this one (87)
#2 D'Arenberg: muted nose, but explosive on the palatte; young Syrah? but not as big; gright cherry and plum (93+)
#3 Detenete: Black cherry and lots of it (92)

Steve
#1 CDP: ? Nothing to really comment on
#2 D'Arenberg: chocolate covered cherries, warm persistent tannin, hot finish, green edges - mid-palette; guessed 10 years old (86)
#3 Detente: cherry luden; youngish-mid-palette (92+)

Detente got beter over time and even Ken agreed it was the winner of the tasting; the D'Arenberg gave it a run though