Community Tasting Note
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NoahCap wrote:
December 22, 2023 - An excellent bottle- high fill, perfect cork.
Translucent garnet with light bricking. Blackberry, licorice, olive, and worn leather. The aroma list reads like classic N Rhone Syrah, and in a way it has those classic smells, but there is a difficult to describe perfume-y quality that feels very much like Burgundy. Many commenters here mention calling this as Burgundy and I completely understand where they are coming from.
The body is light, acidity is medium, still a bit of fine powdery tannins. The flavors are balanced between fruit (red and black), olives, garrigue, salted licorice, and tertiary notes of turned earth, worn leather, and saddle soap. Again, there is a delicacy in the presentation of flavor that I don't really associated with the Rhone or Syrah. It has the esthetic of an aged Gevrey.
Though delicate, this did open nicely over the course of several hours. I poured it very gently into a narrow necked decanter so as not to blast it with oxygen, and I think that was a the right approach. I wouldn't say it put on weight exactly, but it did shed some of the thin acidic characteristics that aged wine can have.
This is not a powerful burly Hermitage. It is light, subtle, and though probably best 5-8 yrs ago, is beautiful now. Drink this if you have it; it'll hold for a while but I think it's on a long slow decline. Really beatiful now, but treat it delicately and pair it with a roast chicken or mushrooms as opposed to a big beef roast. Enjoy!2 people found this helpful 730 views