2005 Ch. de Montfaucon Cotes du Rhone

Roasted chicken was on the menu tonight as we settled in to see how much snow we'll have on the ground tomorrow morning. I usually grab a Pinot Noir here, but instead I decided to go with a Cotes du Rhone to pair with the aggressive spice rub I applied to the chicken. The 2005 Chateau de Montfaucon Baron Louis Cotes du Rhone has the typical light garnet color of a CdR with a touch of cloudy sediment. The nose is full of sweet/tart red fruits - strawberry, cranberry, raspberry, etc. Also present is a hint of black pepper and some pretty herbal notes. The palate is very dry and there's a disconcerting note of cardboard/newspaper there that I suspect might be a touch of cork taint. My wife, however, (someone who is typically quick to spot a corked wine) just said it was a "French earthiness." Not sure who's correct here, but either way the palate wasn't terribly enjoyable to me. So I hesitate to recommend this to anyone. I have one more in the cellar so I'll have to gather another data point before passing judgment.