December 31, 2023 - Not sure why, but I had low expectations with this wine. As usual, I was way off - it’s absolutely singing. Clean, fruit is still there, also retained some grip and it tastes like a wine that is 10 years younger. Had this with confit pork shoulder from St John and it smashed it
January 28, 2022 - Burch's BBQ Bonanza (Smokestak): Yum. This is grown up wine. Savoury, tons of structure there, but still vibrant. You could happily drink a bottle of this on your own over several hours while writing poetry or solving the problems of the world. Clear WOTN for me.
September 18, 2020 - Served at an Allemand dinner as a blind. This clearly wasn't Allemand, but had some pepper and a bit of rusticity leading most to guess Cornas too; no one had it as Hermitage. This started off a bit slow, but picked up after a few hours with a bit of bacon and some depth on the palate. After a few more hours though, it had clearly started to fade. For a 97, a very good effort from the second best (or......) producer on the hill.
January 22, 2020 - Smoky and mysterious. Dark and brooding. This has energy and verve but unfortunately is on the way down. Spice and nerve and tension, but not enough - it's a bit soupy. Syrah shouldn't be like this! Where's the definition? Where's the precision? Grr. Sadly it's finished, this wine. An expensive luxury!
March 28, 2016 - Granato. Incredibile il naso, con la tipica speziatura del Surah accaompagnata da frutto rosso maturo, goudron, tapenade, scorza di arancia candita, menta, cacao amaro, camino spento. Bocca soave, equilibrata, di incredibile lunghezza
April 18, 2015 - A lovely wine, albeit lacking a little depth of fruit. Quite structured, and a little austere. The nose shows more of the black and red fruits than the more complex smoky and bacon and meaty notes that one would expect. But on the palate, the wine is feminine, elegant and beautifully balanced. Drinking now.
December 22, 2013 - Lightly corked. Shame, what was underneath seemed good and very refined.
February 13, 2011 - Gentle, smoky, meaty syrah. A little black fruit. Well made. 92+
December 15, 2009 - Earthy, vegetal, sauvage like in its character with perfumed red fruits. Very meaty and brooding but still elegant. A slight oakiness which is well integrated and the wine is balanced and harmonious with firm tannins. Enjoyable without really exciting.
October 29, 2009 - Still young. Very focused nose and very well defined palate. Needs time to come around. Pedigree and winemaking are clearly stellar. Drink 2010 to 2020.