The 2012 Le Petit Mont possesses a translucent, dark ruby core that moves to dark pink reflections on the rim. The nose delivers notes of ripe black strawberry, dried black cherries, creme de cassis, fresh wild flowers, crushed stones, garrigue and hints of black olive, meat and white pepper in the background. The palate has a full, dense texture and round mouthfeel, combined with the perfect amount of freshness and acidity to balance the sweetness of fruit. Flavors on the palate are similar to the nose along with notes of ripe wild berries, tobacco, wild herbs, and crushed stones driving the finish. The great thing about this wine is that it does not need air; simply open the bottle and serve at cellar temperature (55 degrees) and then let the wine rest for a few minutes in the glass. Due to the alcohol content, you will not want to serve this wine much warmer, because the alcohol will overpower the nose and palate. This wine is perfect at the moment, but could easily be cellared for another three to five years if kept in a dark and cool environment. One of the best pairings I have ever has with a rich Grenache in this style is this slow braised pork shoulder cooked in various dried fruits. It is a Catalan (Spanish) preparation, but it will blow your mind when you have the two together.