2003 Artazuri NAVARRA (Spain)

This 2003 Grenache (or Garnacha)-based wine is still drinkable, yet on the way out because of its flabby constitution. Another victim of the 2003 European heat wave, the heat obviously cooked the typical Grenache vibrancy out of this wine. Color a bit dull; medium ruby, tending toward brownish at the rim. Flat nose of cooked raspberries, caramel, and milk. Soft, round, low acid "winey" flavors, with a soft, flabby, barky-mushroomy component on the finish. Not unpleasant, but you can't help but see how much better this wine would have been without all that heat. 80. Was about $9 at Central Market.