Pop and pour, cork broke when I almost had it all the way out. I immediately got worried based on earlier notes, but this bottle showed itself to be pristine. On the nose: soft bbq, cedar, olive brine, game, dried raspberry. Not quite as haunting as the 1980 Le meal I've had, but damn if it wasn't close. Lively and energetic on the palate: dried raspberry, fantastic acid, lovely savory note and soft tannin on the long finish. Absolutely stunning.
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Unlike other members, I had no issues with my bottle, and the wine is drinking really well. Decanted about 4 hours before drinking, which was about right. An elegant lady of a certain age. Not as ravishing as when she was young, but elegant and beautiful as only an older woman of impeccable class and intelligence can be.
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[Blind] Lots of cork discussion around this bottle although I don’t see it. Maybe a stunted / muted finish but no obvious TCA to me. Smells a little like middle-aged Cabernet. Palate has soft edges and mellow tannin. Elegant and complex. Probably a less than perfect bottle, but unique and interesting.
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Hard to tell if this bottle was on the way down or still needed another 5-10 years. Lots and lots of reduction; now nearly four hours after decanting, there's still a small bit of reduction. The wine is velvety and rich with raspberry and dark plum fruit, but not a lot of precision or delineation. Paradoxically, it's a rustic with with some elegance to it. Cellared since original release.
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I was really hoping this would be awesome. I suspect the bottle was mildly corked. However, it still had interesting herbal, fruit, and vegetal elements including celery and stems. Some pepper lurking too. Still a bit tannic. Complex on the palate. I wanted more intensity though, more aromatics, and more nuance. Seemed past peak so drink up. Others though the fruit was overripe due to the hot 1990 vintage.
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Shockingly young, in its dark color, and on the palate, which remains stuffed with ripe, dark fruits, tannins and energy. The wine gets going from the moment you sniff the peppery, dark red fruits, spice and earthy characteristics. The finish is long, fresh and loaded with peppery, vibrant fruits. This is good to go now, and should remain at this high level for at least 10-20 years. FWIW, I have had issues with bad bottles of the 1989, but at least this bottle of 1990 was clean.
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"A lovely old fashioned Hermitage", as my much lamented old friend Bristol411 wrote. Still young after all these years. The fruit is still fresh, and the structure is great - delicious lip-smacking tannins. Rich and savoury. This is great now, but I can't think anything bad is going to happen to it over the next few years. exc
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Cellared since release. Curiously younger and more closed than a bottle I had about 8-10 years ago. Dark fruits, very fresh, very good structure -- wait another 10 years on this, and it may still be showing well in another 30 years.
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Hermitage and other N. Rhones (Jeff K's.): Lightly corked. At first blush, I didn't get it, but coming back after a few minutes it was there. Seems like a very nice wine under the TCA. A shame.
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Round Table dinner at Jake's (NYC): Something's off here. Perhaps a little corked, but it's definitely rather awkward and doesn't seem like a representative bottle.
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Another Saturday at Knightsbridge - mostly blind (Northbrook, IL): Tasted double blind. Popped, decanted and poured 15 minutes later. Dense black fruit aromas to start without much charm. Same black fruit on palate with lots of acids and tannins. Revisited again approximately 2 hours later, when it showed more spice and fruit came across as more ripe and nuanced.
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Occasional tasting group: A mixed set.. (@ PB): Doesn't give itself completely in the bouquet. There is some red fruit. Slightly mature on the palate. Red fruits and a bit dusty. The wine is not corked, but also not completely fresh. A bit unripe is the overall impression of this bottle, but according to the person who brought this wine other bottles were sublime. So no score.
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Bryan's Dinner Party Offline (The Ledbury, London): Almost purple on the rim, this looks far younger than it should. Quite a subdued nose. Very very young. Quite a tannic grip. Needs years on this showing ***(*?)
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still young, needs time to open. dark brooding colour, no way is this 20 years old. some smoke and berry fruits, blood and spice in the mouth, but even after an hour still not too forward. But a lovely old fashioned Hermitage.
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Initially very tight. Very youthful in appearance. I put the cork back in and came back to it the next day, by which time the nose was inviting and heady. On the palate it is dark, rich and intense. The finish is long and the tannins are succulent and chewy. It has power, and there is plenty of animal about it. Like all of the 1990 Northern Rhones I have tried, age is still on its side. dg
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atlanta blue nose group hermitage tasting which included 88,89,90 chave, 88, 89, 90 jaboulet la chappelle, 89, 90, 91 sorrell le greal and 89, 90, 91 chapoutier pavillon. sorrels all showed poorly. dusky tannins and adequate fruit in this one, but a big disappointment for a 90.
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Tasting Dinner at Sweets and Savouries (Chicago, IL): Showed better than the 89, but that's not saying much. Disappointing for my second Hermitage ever! Nose was ungiving but hinted at dark fruit and black pepper. I waited it out and tried hard to search for some Syrah fruit. Picked up some slight dark fruit and black pepper. Light to medium bodied. A poor showing for this caliber wine.
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Red Carpet: Rusty red; light green olives, smoke, light licorice; ultra smooth-as-silk mth; nice med. smooth t’s. fin. is easy, not real long.***I liked this, but not a big, stand out wine. Subdued nose.
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12/27/2023 - dmalcolm wrote: flawed
Another corked bottle. Too bad, as there was nice fruit under the TCA.
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7/15/2023 - Aravind Asok wrote:
Pop and pour, cork broke when I almost had it all the way out. I immediately got worried based on earlier notes, but this bottle showed itself to be pristine. On the nose: soft bbq, cedar, olive brine, game, dried raspberry. Not quite as haunting as the 1980 Le meal I've had, but damn if it wasn't close. Lively and energetic on the palate: dried raspberry, fantastic acid, lovely savory note and soft tannin on the long finish. Absolutely stunning.
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4/22/2022 - Nothung Likes this wine: 94 Points
Unlike other members, I had no issues with my bottle, and the wine is drinking really well. Decanted about 4 hours before drinking, which was about right. An elegant lady of a certain age. Not as ravishing as when she was young, but elegant and beautiful as only an older woman of impeccable class and intelligence can be.
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11/21/2021 - hargy wrote:
not spoiled but well past its 'use by' date - not rated
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9/16/2021 - dmalcolm wrote:
Ever so slightly corked, which wasn't apparent upon opening.
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9/16/2021 - The Vines That Bind wrote: 92 Points
[Blind] Lots of cork discussion around this bottle although I don’t see it. Maybe a stunted / muted finish but no obvious TCA to me. Smells a little like middle-aged Cabernet. Palate has soft edges and mellow tannin. Elegant and complex. Probably a less than perfect bottle, but unique and interesting.
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3/5/2021 - cfk49 wrote: 86 Points
Hard to tell if this bottle was on the way down or still needed another 5-10 years. Lots and lots of reduction; now nearly four hours after decanting, there's still a small bit of reduction. The wine is velvety and rich with raspberry and dark plum fruit, but not a lot of precision or delineation. Paradoxically, it's a rustic with with some elegance to it. Cellared since original release.
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10/29/2020 - Nanda wrote: flawed
Something was off here -- plenty of fruit but just tired and muted.
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5/4/2020 - Tubulus wrote:
A sound bottle. A bit muted on day 1 but opened up gloriously on day 2. Some olives and meats and tertiary fruit.
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1/20/2020 - Bordeaux_Jon Likes this wine: 92 Points
I was really hoping this would be awesome. I suspect the bottle was mildly corked. However, it still had interesting herbal, fruit, and vegetal elements including celery and stems. Some pepper lurking too. Still a bit tannic. Complex on the palate. I wanted more intensity though, more aromatics, and more nuance. Seemed past peak so drink up. Others though the fruit was overripe due to the hot 1990 vintage.
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11/17/2019 - Nanda wrote: flawed
A Whole Lotta Chave Hermitage (Single Blind) (Chez Kailin): Ringer in a flight of Chave 83/88/89/90. Something was awry here. Perhaps corked as it was muted and flact, but it wasn't distinctly corked.
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10/8/2018 - Jeff Leve wrote: 95 Points
Shockingly young, in its dark color, and on the palate, which remains stuffed with ripe, dark fruits, tannins and energy. The wine gets going from the moment you sniff the peppery, dark red fruits, spice and earthy characteristics. The finish is long, fresh and loaded with peppery, vibrant fruits. This is good to go now, and should remain at this high level for at least 10-20 years. FWIW, I have had issues with bad bottles of the 1989, but at least this bottle of 1990 was clean.
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6/4/2017 - ggormezano wrote: flawed
Corked
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5/12/2017 - Jeff W wrote:
"A lovely old fashioned Hermitage", as my much lamented old friend Bristol411 wrote. Still young after all these years. The fruit is still fresh, and the structure is great - delicious lip-smacking tannins. Rich and savoury. This is great now, but I can't think anything bad is going to happen to it over the next few years. exc
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12/31/2014 - cfk49 wrote: 92 Points
Cellared since release. Curiously younger and more closed than a bottle I had about 8-10 years ago. Dark fruits, very fresh, very good structure -- wait another 10 years on this, and it may still be showing well in another 30 years.
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9/23/2014 - salil wrote: flawed
Second time I've had this, second time it's been corked. Goddammit.
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2/13/2014 - Loren Sonkin wrote: flawed
Hermitage and other N. Rhones (Jeff K's.): Lightly corked. At first blush, I didn't get it, but coming back after a few minutes it was there. Seems like a very nice wine under the TCA. A shame.
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11/30/2012 - salil wrote: flawed
Round Table dinner at Jake's (NYC): Something's off here. Perhaps a little corked, but it's definitely rather awkward and doesn't seem like a representative bottle.
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11/15/2012 - WineBec wrote:
Dusty basement; rubber; minerality/chlorine almost on the nose. Palate is great.
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4/28/2012 - Burgundy Al wrote: 90 Points
Another Saturday at Knightsbridge - mostly blind (Northbrook, IL): Tasted double blind. Popped, decanted and poured 15 minutes later. Dense black fruit aromas to start without much charm. Same black fruit on palate with lots of acids and tannins. Revisited again approximately 2 hours later, when it showed more spice and fruit came across as more ripe and nuanced.
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11/24/2011 - ronlite wrote: 94 Points
Excellent, leather, big
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9/11/2010 - Zweder wrote:
Occasional tasting group: A mixed set.. (@ PB): Doesn't give itself completely in the bouquet. There is some red fruit. Slightly mature on the palate. Red fruits and a bit dusty. The wine is not corked, but also not completely fresh. A bit unripe is the overall impression of this bottle, but according to the person who brought this wine other bottles were sublime. So no score.
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7/7/2010 - SimonG wrote:
Bryan's Dinner Party Offline (The Ledbury, London): Almost purple on the rim, this looks far younger than it should. Quite a subdued nose. Very very young. Quite a tannic grip. Needs
years on this showing ***(*?)
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7/7/2010 - bristol411 wrote: 90 Points
still young, needs time to open. dark brooding colour, no way is this 20 years old. some smoke and berry fruits, blood and spice in the mouth, but even after an hour still not too forward. But a lovely old fashioned Hermitage.
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4/18/2010 - sbeeks wrote: 95 Points
Wow. What great fruit, 20 yeasrs in. I so wish I had more of this. still with some great cherry notes. soft and supple in the mouth.
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1/14/2008 - Jeff W wrote:
Initially very tight. Very youthful in appearance. I put the cork back in and came back to it the next day, by which time the nose was inviting and heady. On the palate it is dark, rich and intense. The finish is long and the tannins are succulent and chewy. It has power, and there is plenty of animal about it. Like all of the 1990 Northern Rhones I have tried, age is still on its side. dg
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1/13/2008 - IAMVLAD wrote: 87 Points
atlanta blue nose group hermitage tasting which included 88,89,90 chave, 88, 89, 90 jaboulet la chappelle, 89, 90, 91 sorrell le greal and 89, 90, 91 chapoutier pavillon. sorrels all showed poorly. dusky tannins and adequate fruit in this one, but a big disappointment for a 90.
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4/17/2006 - Nanda wrote: 85 Points
Tasting Dinner at Sweets and Savouries (Chicago, IL): Showed better than the 89, but that's not saying much. Disappointing for my second Hermitage ever! Nose was ungiving but hinted at dark fruit and black pepper. I waited it out and tried hard to search for some Syrah fruit. Picked up some slight dark fruit and black pepper. Light to medium bodied. A poor showing for this caliber wine.
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4/1/2006 - winefool wrote: 92 Points
Clear clean birght black fruit with earth hints on the nose. Nice round black fruit on the palate. A good wine, but not up to expectations. 4/06
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12/6/2002 - peternelson wrote: 93 Points
Red Carpet: Rusty red; light green olives, smoke, light licorice; ultra smooth-as-silk mth; nice med. smooth t’s. fin. is easy, not real long.***I liked this, but not a big, stand out wine. Subdued nose.
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