Excellent+ Similar to prior TNs. Beautiful savory Syrah. Give it some air. (Not scoring here to avoid a single user over-weighting the community score, but '93'.)
Importer: Paul M. Young Fine Wines
14% abv
Empty bottle weight: 572g
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is excellent and will be interesting to follow.
At PnP and over about an hour I had a glass of this, allowing it to open in the glass. Complex and unfolding, turned moist earth, pine forest floor, the fruit starts subdued, soy / roasting caramelizing fruit, spice (nutmeg?), smoke, some brine / olive, fresh bay leaf, more soy, sois bois, autumn leaves, the finish gets longer as this gets air.
After that glass, the bottle was capped with a rubber stopper, no gas or suction, and stored upright in a wine fridge. A week later the rest was consumed. I felt that the extended air contact was a net negative. There was the air in the bottle and I'm unsure whether those suction caps are really well sealed when not suctioned. It showed bacon and also I found the smoky nose had become too strong, too campfire, but this distraction faded, some aging sour game, some brown sugar. It was still very good, but felt like a wine past peak. Still, great with a sirloin steak.
14% abv
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
January Rhônes (Chicago, IL): Now we're back on track! This is the Sorrel Gréal that I know and love. A mix of red and black fruit, plenty of structure, and proper Hermitage weight. No oak sticking out here. Kind of like a Chave, but rustic. Excellent stuff -- something worthwhile to follow as the years go on.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Almost 2 years since my last bottle. Opened for 3 hours. Color is dark ruby red with a hint of orange on the rim. The nose: Loads of pepper, cassis and violets. On the palate: Raspberry liquor, cassis, violets, blood, smoke, pepper and some vanilla. Long finish and sensuous mouthfeel. I underscored this last time. This is an incredible wine. While not inexpensive I would also say it gives value for money. Wines of this quality are rare IMO.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Krotida Wine Gang Tasting, Marc Sorrel Hermitage Tasting (A for Athens): The wine was sadly corked but even like this, you could still see how wonderful it could be. The wine has the same color as the 2011. The wine shows massive dark fruit, sweetness, oak frame, liquorice and a lot of floral notes. The same profile in the palate with the cork taint sitting squarely in the middle. It is impressive how much you see underneath all that cork. We still drank it though!!!!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is going to be great. It is to young. Put away for 5 years. Currants , raspberry, violets and pepper . Incredibly smooth. On the nose I would say Cornas but the taste is Hermitage. Pure class. I bought a case and should have bought 2 or 3 cases to lay down.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Frightfully young, concentrated, full-bodied, tannic, fresh and holding on to its youthful, classic bent, the wine requires at least another decade in the cellar before all the grilled, smoked meat, beef blood, crushed rock and dark red fruits become civilized. This is a very strong wine, but patience is needed here.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Translucent crimson color. Pine tree, wild strawberry, bramble, cotton candy, sandalwood, kirsch, black currant, puer tea, musk, earth, brett, dried angelica, brine, dye, yoghurt, peppermint and red pepper on the nose. Wow, I'm so impressed by the scent of the wine. Probably, it has far better condition than the previous bottle. It feels like ethereal perfume in the Zalto Burgundy glass. The nose is not only fragrant but complex and precise. The palate is a bit tighter than the nose. It has gravel-like structure, satinlike texture, agreeable balance, thrilling minerality, pure fruitiness and concentrated must. The wine is riper, fruit-forward and accessible than the 2013. I fully expect the wine could be a great Hermitage developing for a next decade. Clearly, one of the most fascinating Hermitage that I've ever met. 96-98 pts. Alc. 14.0%
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Crimson color. Menthol, licorice, marjoram, blackberry, black currant, rapsberry, blueberry, cedar, sandalwood, leather, dye and some nutmeg on the nose. Quite different from the 2011 which is light and elegant as flower. The 2012 is a wild beast having tannic and firm structure. Decently concentrated and yet bone dry on the palate. A great future is here but we had better wait for 2 years to open it at least. Just open the 2011 till waiting. That is better way for now. 93-95 pts. Alc. 14.0%
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark Syrah fruit bouquet which is both fine and rich. Just a delight in the mouth: big and velvety with a stemy note that should integrate with time. This is full, well-structured and should be very long-lived.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
En primeur tasting. Dark, pure fruit, very tannic and firm with great grip and concentration. Wow. Powerful and spicy. Great length. Amazing wine with great potential. 94-96+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
3/16/2024 - tward Likes this wine:
Excellent+
Similar to prior TNs. Beautiful savory Syrah. Give it some air. (Not scoring here to avoid a single user over-weighting the community score, but '93'.)
Importer: Paul M. Young Fine Wines
14% abv
Empty bottle weight: 572g
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/22/2023 - tward Likes this wine: 94 Points
Excellent+/Outstanding. This was singing from shortly after opening. Black olive, savory, bacon fat, smoked meat.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/25/2022 - tward Likes this wine: 93 Points
This is excellent and will be interesting to follow.
At PnP and over about an hour I had a glass of this, allowing it to open in the glass. Complex and unfolding, turned moist earth, pine forest floor, the fruit starts subdued, soy / roasting caramelizing fruit, spice (nutmeg?), smoke, some brine / olive, fresh bay leaf, more soy, sois bois, autumn leaves, the finish gets longer as this gets air.
After that glass, the bottle was capped with a rubber stopper, no gas or suction, and stored upright in a wine fridge. A week later the rest was consumed. I felt that the extended air contact was a net negative. There was the air in the bottle and I'm unsure whether those suction caps are really well sealed when not suctioned. It showed bacon and also I found the smoky nose had become too strong, too campfire, but this distraction faded, some aging sour game, some brown sugar. It was still very good, but felt like a wine past peak. Still, great with a sirloin steak.
14% abv
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/31/2022 - acyso wrote: 93 Points
January Rhônes (Chicago, IL): Now we're back on track! This is the Sorrel Gréal that I know and love. A mix of red and black fruit, plenty of structure, and proper Hermitage weight. No oak sticking out here. Kind of like a Chave, but rustic. Excellent stuff -- something worthwhile to follow as the years go on.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/3/2021 - robertek wrote: 93 Points
Hermitage!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/16/2020 - Brian of Mull Likes this wine: 96 Points
Almost 2 years since my last bottle. Opened for 3 hours. Color is dark ruby red with a hint of orange on the rim. The nose: Loads of pepper, cassis and violets. On the palate: Raspberry liquor, cassis, violets, blood, smoke, pepper and some vanilla. Long finish and sensuous mouthfeel. I underscored this last time. This is an incredible wine. While not inexpensive I would also say it gives value for money. Wines of this quality are rare IMO.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/24/2019 - kostaslonis wrote: flawed
Krotida Wine Gang Tasting, Marc Sorrel Hermitage Tasting (A for Athens): The wine was sadly corked but even like this, you could still see how wonderful it could be.
The wine has the same color as the 2011.
The wine shows massive dark fruit, sweetness, oak frame, liquorice and a lot of floral notes.
The same profile in the palate with the cork taint sitting squarely in the middle.
It is impressive how much you see underneath all that cork.
We still drank it though!!!!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/2/2019 - Brian of Mull Likes this wine: 94 Points
This is going to be great. It is to young. Put away for 5 years. Currants , raspberry, violets and pepper . Incredibly smooth. On the nose I would say Cornas but the taste is Hermitage. Pure class. I bought a case and should have bought 2 or 3 cases to lay down.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/1/2018 - Jeff Leve wrote: 94 Points
Frightfully young, concentrated, full-bodied, tannic, fresh and holding on to its youthful, classic bent, the wine requires at least another decade in the cellar before all the grilled, smoked meat, beef blood, crushed rock and dark red fruits become civilized. This is a very strong wine, but patience is needed here.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/12/2017 - TJ_The VitiViewer wrote: 96 Points
Translucent crimson color. Pine tree, wild strawberry, bramble, cotton candy, sandalwood, kirsch, black currant, puer tea, musk, earth, brett, dried angelica, brine, dye, yoghurt, peppermint and red pepper on the nose. Wow, I'm so impressed by the scent of the wine. Probably, it has far better condition than the previous bottle. It feels like ethereal perfume in the Zalto Burgundy glass. The nose is not only fragrant but complex and precise. The palate is a bit tighter than the nose. It has gravel-like structure, satinlike texture, agreeable balance, thrilling minerality, pure fruitiness and concentrated must. The wine is riper, fruit-forward and accessible than the 2013. I fully expect the wine could be a great Hermitage developing for a next decade. Clearly, one of the most fascinating Hermitage that I've ever met. 96-98 pts. Alc. 14.0%
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/27/2017 - TJ_The VitiViewer wrote: 93 Points
Crimson color. Menthol, licorice, marjoram, blackberry, black currant, rapsberry, blueberry, cedar, sandalwood, leather, dye and some nutmeg on the nose. Quite different from the 2011 which is light and elegant as flower. The 2012 is a wild beast having tannic and firm structure. Decently concentrated and yet bone dry on the palate. A great future is here but we had better wait for 2 years to open it at least. Just open the 2011 till waiting. That is better way for now. 93-95 pts. Alc. 14.0%
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/20/2016 - Drankard wrote: 94 Points
Dark Syrah fruit bouquet which is both fine and rich. Just a delight in the mouth: big and velvety with a stemy note that should integrate with time. This is full, well-structured and should be very long-lived.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/3/2014 - rossi.wine wrote: 95 Points
En primeur tasting. Dark, pure fruit, very tannic and firm with great grip and concentration. Wow. Powerful and spicy. Great length. Amazing wine with great potential. 94-96+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment