March 22, 2024 - A unicorn from my cellar, this was decanted shortly before we served it, and continued to evolve until much later in the evening. Not as powerful as I might have expected, it was still the big dog in terms of weight compared to the next wine served alongside it. Where it truly excelled was the intricate way that the classic Syrah elements (meat, smoke, dark fruit, floral) were woven into a seamless whole. After being open for a while, it gained in savory while the fruit slid to the background. Wonderful match with the succulent roasted goat that was prepared for our main. Sad to see this one go, but it was a fitting end.
October 14, 2022 - Beautiful, elegant wine. Really very special, subtle and poised wine. Nothing showy or overdone here. Big thanks to generous friend for sharing.
October 1, 2022 - Opened at 2:00 and slow oxed til drinking at maybe 9:30. Elegant nose of red and black fruit mingled with hints of charred earth and olive. Has real depth and complexity, and comes across as a complete wine, one that’s only just entering its best drinking years.
March 1, 2019 - Tooch Going Away Dinner (TDS): Paired side-by-side with the 2007. Slow-oxed for 6+ hours before dinner. The nose explodes with lots of pepper nuance and meaty, olive-y intensity. Aromatics are so damn sultry and inviting. Rich with great concentration and black fruit that is infused with meat, pepper and olives. Wow, so powerful yet lithe.
March 1, 2019 - A farewell to Tooch (Chicago, IL): At least tonight, this was far superior to the 2007 version. Heaps of black fruit and a mild pepperiness, with heft that is more reminiscent of Hermitage than St. Joseph. I love the density and power in this wine, and while it comes off as a touch austere right now, I feel like the fruit elements are there if you look for them. It's more brooding than the relatively open-knit 2007, and overall, I get the sense there's more stuffing here.
December 13, 2018 - A week in the Northern Rhone; 12/7/2018-12/15/2018 (Lyon, Vienne, Ampuis, Chavanay, Hermitage, Cornas, St. Joseph, Condrieu & Paris): Tasted at the Domaine. Next to the '03 Les Oliviers - this was our second favorite of the tasting. These old vine wines just really up the ante on the elegance and length of the finish. A little bit like fairy dust the way in lingers on. Such a treat!
March 31, 2018 - Dark fruit nose with musty wood. Entry is sweet and very fruity mid-mouth with a light spiciness and late mid-grained tannins. Very easy to drink now. Good on its own or with cheese.
March 9, 2018 - corked. so sad.
May 17, 2016 - Reticent at first, seeming only slightly different from the regular bottling. A little deeper, meatier, rounder, not necessarily better. Took most of the evening to open up and reveal its various nuances, but when it did, it was a step up in complexity and harmony; nicely balanced, powerful, yet graceful. Lovely.
May 14, 2016 - Cornas & St Joseph Dinner (Camino): Clearly a step in depth above the regular bottling - more better deeper tastier. Some at the table preferred to the 06 and 00 Allemands - I didn't but I could see what they were on about. Happily ones opinions on this wine matter naught because you can't buy it anyway...