I have never visited Chateau de Paraza (a prominentlandmark in the eponymous,
tiny, canal-side village at the eastern extreme of its appellation) and it had
been several years since I tasted one of their wines, but their 2007 Minervois
Cuvee Speciale demonstrates that this well-known estate can still turn out a
head-turning value. Very ripe blackberry fruit sweetly caresses the palate,
with cinnamon, cardamom, juniper, black pepper, and cherry pit bitterness
adding interest. For all of its richness (in itself amazing for the price)
this finishes with lip-smacking juiciness and an invigorating impression akin
to chomping down on the seeds of the blackberries. Enjoy it over the next 2-3
years.
