You take a sip. And suddenly—nothing. Absolute silence. Your brain flatlines. You stare at the wall, eyes unfocused, wine glass suspended midair like your body just blue-screened.
Then—BOOM. Everything floods back at once. Dark berries slap you across the face. Black pepper snaps against your tongue. A rush of garrigue—wild thyme, rosemary, a hint of smoke—comes crashing through, grabbing your senses by the collar. You try to process, to fight back, but the tannins tighten their grip, pressing, coaxing, taking full control.
It’s too much. You’re overwhelmed. Your hands are on the table. You're gripping the wood like it might anchor you back to reality. Then, just as quickly as it started, it stops. The finish is maddeningly slow, teasing, dragging itself out long enough to make sure you feel every last second of it.
You blink. Breathe. Shudder. Someone asks if you’re okay.
You are not.
You take another sip.
Region: Roussillon, France Grapes: Grenache, Carignan, Syrah
