1988 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage Blanc Chevalier de Sterimberg

Community Tasting Notes (3) Median Score: 90 points

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View Jeff W's profile
  • Report Issue

  6/15/2014 - Jeff W wrote:

  I really like marmelade, though I think we Brits have forgotten how to make good marmelade, at least for the mass market. Sweet and insipid and chunky is what you get.
  Hmmm. This Sterimberg is good, but it needs to be woken up. I double decant it and give it the Fourrier shake. It can pay to be brutal with old white Hermitage.
  My current marmelade of choice is made in South Africa for the German market. Marmelade has to have the taste of bitter orange: sweetness as well, but the sweet must never overpower the bitter.
  Now the Sterimberg is not just awake, it comes out fighting. It displays its muscle.
  Liquid marmelade: that's what this is. With added alcohol. Wonderful.
  Bitter is an unusual taste to find in a wine, so I can understand why it's problematic. It's a grown-up taste.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View Jeff W's profile
  • Report Issue

  12/31/2005 - Jeff W wrote: 90 Points

  From memory, as I didn't take notes.
  The colour was a gold tone I would associate with sauternes. On the palate it was rich, powerful, and unctous, with a dense texture. The finish was very long, with a satisfying spicyness (oak?) and good acidity. Interestingly, RP's recommended drinking windows for the Sterimberg are all over the place, and 2005 is right at the end of his window for the 1988. However, I felt that while it was clearly mature, there is plenty of life left in it.
  I think this is a very unusual style of white that you either love or hate - I could argue that it is really a red that has not come out of the closet - personally I find it delicious. vg

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View vagrantone's profile
  • Report Issue

  3/22/1993 - vagrantone Likes this wine: 80 Points

  Old note where 16/20 represents a good score.
  Straw yellow, noticeable "legs".
  Powerful nose with both heavy fruity and floral notes.
  Unctuous, perhaps lacking a little acidity for balance, long and pleasant finish.
  More intense at end of tasting, so likely to improve still

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

Professional reviews have copyrights and you can view them here for your personal use only as private content. To view pro reviews you must either subscribe to a pre-integrated publication or manually enter reviews below. Learn more.