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An evening with Sorrel and Gerin
Uncorked, Bishopsgate
Tasted February 4, 2020 by NickA with 191 views
Introduction
Guillaume Sorrel presented the wines of his family.
Victoria Rogers, who imports Gerin, presented that family's wines.
Flight 1 - Gerin Condrieu (2 notes)
Aside from some new oak on the Eguets, these are the same aside from the different make-up of the granite soil, and yet the wines are completely different in glass. I didn't love either - would likely prefer a blend of the two styles in one wine.
White
2018 Jean-Michel Gerin Condrieu La Loye
88 points
Grown on granite that has become sandy. No new oak.
Interesting colour, tinged with pink and turquoise. Really tropical and floral, nice length, maybe a bit too voluptuous.
Interesting colour, tinged with pink and turquoise. Really tropical and floral, nice length, maybe a bit too voluptuous.
White
2018 Jean-Michel Gerin Condrieu Les Eguets
89 points
Grown on rocky, deeper soil than the La Loye. c. 25% new oak.
Classic yellow colour, and quite clean and classic on the nose and palate too. Mineral, some chewiness, saline finish.
Classic yellow colour, and quite clean and classic on the nose and palate too. Mineral, some chewiness, saline finish.
Flight 2 - Gerin reds (4 notes)
Current and older vintages of the two lesser red Gerin cuvees; the Grandes Places and Landonne are produced only in tiny quantities.
Red
2018 Jean-Michel Gerin Côte-Rôtie Champin le Seigneur
89 points
Made from 10 parcels, eight on Cote Brune and two on Cote Blonde. Contains 5% Viognier. 30% new oak.
Lots of fruit, and very accessible and open already, with fine tannins. Bitter chocolate, violets, lots of depth. Very dark but not overly rich.
Lots of fruit, and very accessible and open already, with fine tannins. Bitter chocolate, violets, lots of depth. Very dark but not overly rich.
Red
2018 Jean-Michel Gerin Côte-Rôtie La Viallière
90 points
Really steep vineyard. 100% Syrah. 50% new oak.
Toasty, very dark with liquorice notes, lots of fruit and plenty of chew and stuffing. A powerful but sleek wine that will need time - eight years from vintage was suggested.
Toasty, very dark with liquorice notes, lots of fruit and plenty of chew and stuffing. A powerful but sleek wine that will need time - eight years from vintage was suggested.
Red
2013 Jean-Michel Gerin Côte-Rôtie Champin le Seigneur
89 points
50% new oak and contains at least 5% Viognier.
Nose already nicely developed with bacon fat and game notes, and pepper on the palate, but score is held down by the tannins being a bit rustic (a characteristic of the 2013 vintage).
Nose already nicely developed with bacon fat and game notes, and pepper on the palate, but score is held down by the tannins being a bit rustic (a characteristic of the 2013 vintage).
Red
2011 Jean-Michel Gerin Côte-Rôtie La Viallière
90 points
100% new oak.
Juicy dark fruits, very deep body, tannin still present but adding to the enjoyment - classic N Rhone Syrah at the start of its drinking window.
Juicy dark fruits, very deep body, tannin still present but adding to the enjoyment - classic N Rhone Syrah at the start of its drinking window.
Flight 3 - Sorrel whites (4 notes)
Surprisingly the cask sample 2018 Rocoules clearly won this flight; the two older vintages were a bit disappointing. Rocoules offers a big step up vs the straight Blanc in 2018.
White
2018 Marc Sorrel Hermitage Blanc
89 points
100% Marsanne, 60 y old vines. Surprisingly tropical, nicely rounded, doesn't have the savour or creaminess that I like in Marsanne wines.
White
2018 Marc Sorrel Hermitage Blanc Les Rocoules
93 points
90% Marsanne, 10% Roussanne. 80 y old vines. Guillaume Sorrel says this needs ten years after the vintage, but it's delicious tonight and to my mind outshone the 2015 and 2000 tasted alongside. Really lovely texture and finesse, with sweet apple, white flowers and a bitter finish. Slipped down so easily!
White
2015 Marc Sorrel Hermitage Blanc Les Rocoules
90 points
Pungent, smoky, deep and savoury nose. Surprising finesse on the palate given the heat of the vintage. But somehow doesn't stand out as sufficiently delicious; could perhaps do with more lift and creamy charm.
White
2000 Marc Sorrel Hermitage Blanc Les Rocoules
90 points
Smooth, savoury and quite mature. Some creamy nuttiness, and decent length, but feels a bit tired; not at all faulty, but apparently not the best bottle.
Flight 4 - Sorrel 2018 reds (2 notes)
By contrast the straight Hermitage is almost as good, at this stage at least, as the Greal.
Red
2018 Marc Sorrel Hermitage
91 points
90% from Plantier, 10% from Bessards. 100% Syrah and 100% whole bunch (as are all of Sorrel's red Hermitages since 2011). No new oak and no filtration (as with all of Sorrel's Hermitages of both colours).
Really sweet and candied fruit (without this seeming overdone), albeit a bit darker on the palate. Nicely balanced and very approachable already. Comes across a lot friendlier than the 2017 did at this stage.
Really sweet and candied fruit (without this seeming overdone), albeit a bit darker on the palate. Nicely balanced and very approachable already. Comes across a lot friendlier than the 2017 did at this stage.
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Red
2018 Marc Sorrel Hermitage Le Gréal
92 points
90% Meal, 10% Greffieux. Contains 10% mixed Marsanne and Roussanne, to add a floral quality. The Meal plot is 30m wide and runs from the top to the bottom of the hill, covering all six of Hermitage's terroirs.
Again this is friendly compared to the 2017 - silky, bursting with ripe fruit, but in lovely balance, though perhaps not offering the raw power that I associate with Hermitage.
Again this is friendly compared to the 2017 - silky, bursting with ripe fruit, but in lovely balance, though perhaps not offering the raw power that I associate with Hermitage.
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Flight 5 - Older Sorrel reds (3 notes)
1998 came through as WOTN, obviously, but the 2014 straight Hermitage was probably the surprise hit of the tasting - so fresh and delicious. I own a few N Rhone 2014s and am encouraged to consider buying more.
Red
2014 Marc Sorrel Hermitage
92 points
This was better than expected given the modest reputation of the vintage. A lovely sweet lift, with brambly fruit and cassis on the finish. Supple and welcoming, this is still primary but in a great spot right now.
Red
2013 Marc Sorrel Hermitage Le Gréal
92 points
A bit closed; Guillaume Sorrel says it needs another ten years, although I might have said five. Has obvious power, reflecting the heat of the vintage. Chewy, muscular, somewhat bitter, tannins remain prominent.
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Red
1998 Marc Sorrel Hermitage Le Gréal
93 points
The World Cup vintage! Lots of animale on the nose, this has obvious depth, but is silky and (relatively) weightless. Leather and sweet fruit and very long. Ideally share this with at most one other person, to appreciate its quality and nuance. Feels fully mature but will presumably last another decade or two.