Hermitage evening

We, 11 wine-lovers*, gathered at The Traklin Wine-Bistro to share and enjoy several great Hermitage. Uri bought in an auction the 1990 La Sizeranne & the 1988 La Chapelle. I bought on several occasions the 2003 La Sizeranne and the two Pavillons.
* The participants: Mati, Uri & Dalya, Ofer & Orna, Eli, Ido & Kurt, Lior, Dov & myself.

• 2003 M. Chapoutier Hermitage La Sizeranne 89 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

  Aroma of ripe red / black fruit, cassis, graphite and spicy oak.
  Ripe and medium to full-bodied, lots of red / black fruits, high tannin level, with good acidity and smoke. Not a typical Hermitage and almost mistakable for something from the New World.

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• 1990 M. Chapoutier Hermitage La Sizeranne 93 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

  (at The Traklin wine-bistro) There was no time to decant this so it was poured immediately after opening.
  The nose shows seductive secondary aroma of leather, aged dark fruits, mineral, earth, horse and a slight earthy note, terrific old-world wine.
  
  The palate is very old-black and notes of roasted meat, espresso, both savory and sweet at the same time, with a thick nicely balanced medium finish. A hint of drying tannin on the finish suggests this still needs a bit of time.
  Despite a medium weight frame that is a bit lighter than some of the other wines served this evening, this wine was considered among the top two consumed that evening.
  It showed both power and elegance from start through the finish. Goes on and on in the mouth.
  Very impressive. Perfect balance, almost impeccable.

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• 1988 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle 92 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

  (at The Traklin wine-bistro) The cork broke during corking and red spots reached its top. The color tended towards red-brown.
  The aroma revealed considerable secondary nuances, beautiful complex nose of black cherries, underbrush, bacon, smoke as well as abundant aromas of cedar, damp forest, spice box, and Asian spices.
  Medium to full-bodied on the palate with medium acidity and soft residual tannins, deep earthy, meaty notes, some roasted red meat, black olives, loamy earth and just a little under layer of dark fruit. The middle palate is full, with flavors mirroring the nose.
  Finish was long & well put together, quite nicely long as well, transitioning seamlessly into a silkily elegant glide of ripe dark fruits. May not have the complexity of a truly great wine, but a joy to drink nevertheless. It seemed that the wine was at peak or a bit beyond.
  The wine was more pleasurable aromatically than on the palate.

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• 1996 M. Chapoutier Ermitage Le Pavillon 94 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

  This wine possesses a unified & harmonious black/purple color;
  Present aromas of framboise, blueberries, roasted herbs, Asian spices, roasted meats, blackberries, cassis, smoke and truffles.
  Wonderfully ripe, concentrated and full-bodied, with staggering levels of extract, well structured, rich, silky, elegant, mature but young, with high velvety tannin, good acidity, and a long finish.
  A whole seducing pleasure!

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• 1997 M. Chapoutier Ermitage Le Pavillon 95 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

  Elegant & noble perfect whole shiny purple color, with aroma of blackberry, raspberry, cherry, vanilla, smoke, licorice, tar, and oak. Seems very rich and quite young.
  On the palate tight and too tanic at first, not as soft as the 1996, but after an hour when it opened demonstrated all its powerful & wonderful concentration, rich and supple in texture, massive body, ripe black raspberries, leather, earth, bloody meat, grilled steak, dark fruit, cassis, all well balanced and a silky finish in this decadently rich Hermitage.

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All agreed that it was a very enjoyable evening, where we shared great wines, along with tasty food, in a very social and friendly event, where I was the ancor who knew or met all participants except Ido's friend, Kurt. It seems that all would like to attend future similar events.