I tasted it first in the quiet of an old drawing room, the kind that still smells faintly of smoke, perfume and secrets. The first sip curls over my tongue with dark fruit and supple warmth, the way a forbidden touch might trail across a corseted waist. It is velvet and sin wrapped together, soft at first, then revealing a firmer grip, a hint of spice, a whisper of something that should not be said out loud in polite society.
You can almost hear the rustle of silk skirts in the corridors of a château where everyone pretends not to know who is slipping into whose room. The wine tastes like the moment a gloved hand lingers too long. A flush rises. A door clicks shut. The night becomes heavier. Rich plum moves into red currant, then a slow, lingering finish that feels like being pulled back into the room even after you thought you had escaped.
Let it breathe beside a bowl of lamb braised until it collapses on contact, or a platter of aged cheeses that melt just enough to be indecent. The wine settles in, watching you, waiting, asking if you plan to be good tonight or if you want to let the scandal win.
Region: Entre Deux Mers, Bordeaux, France Grapes: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon
