2003 Chateau de Pena Cotes du Roussillon Villages (SW France)

Dull blackish ruby color. Plum preserves, some spice, and earth on the nose. Simple, medium-bodied flavors of plummy blackberries and dry leather. A bit astringent and flat on the finish. Not bad, but it is interesting that the cheapest wine of this co-op (Cuvee de Pena, a VDP blend, the 2003 of which I reviewed back in August 2005) is almost always, in my view, better than this wine, its slightly more expensive AOC sibling. About $8 at Spec's. 80.