March 10, 2021 - Not that great, sadly. I expect a deep, concentrated, savory, powerful wine from Hermitage, and this just did not deliver. It was thin, surprisingly light in body and flavor, lacking in both primary fruit, and pleasant secondary aromas of age. The wine is definitely beyond young, beyond middle aged, and is now frankly elderly. It appears pale, bricked, and has a huge amount of sediment (presumably precipitated tannins). A definite olive tapenade flavor classic for N Rhone Syrah is present, but other than that, I would have been hard pressed nail this wine for what it is. Its just a bit too old for its own good, and honestly, a wine from Hermitage should last 20 years no problem.
August 1, 2020 - Sadly, this seemed well past its prime. Lacked all fruit and the secondary flavors weren't really present. Got some smoked meat / beef blood but it was fleeting. Smelled better than it tasted. Enjoyable, mostly bc of the integrated tannins, but not what one expects from a Hermitage.
December 9, 2019 - Decanted for 2 hours. Cured meat, smoke and cranberries on the nose. Strawberries, cherry pit, olives, and salami on the palate. Medium body and refined, tannins completely integrated, but there is still some intensity. Very good and in it’s prime.
January 31, 2017 - Tuesday Night Double Blind $50+ (Alpharetta, GA): Dull maroon, cloudy core; sour nose, olives, cranberry, tapenade, sour plum, leather, Band-Aid; very sour palate, many turned off by the acid but I thought this was on the edge but not too acidic, granite, red fruit, lots of lift; older Cote Rotie?
December 1, 2015 - Northern Rhone tasting (at Eli Raban's home, Rehovot): transparent light red-brown
fruity floral fresh aroma with tart notes
medium bodied, firm tannins, medium structure & complexity, pleasant but not great
February 9, 2014 - Wow, knockout nose of blueberries, iron & leather. Cool red fruit, leather, tobacco, some herbs, with good acidity on the palate. Solid structure. Drinking well, but I think there's some upside potential. Impressive wine. 93+
December 13, 2012 - Good lord. Big guy with campfire, bacon, and beef blood upon initial approach with blueberry, sweet wood, and blackberry liqueur leaking through with some air. Not much acidity but with lower tannins to match, I can see this continuing to evolve for another 5-10 years, but perfectly good now with two hours to decant.
August 29, 2011 - With Charons. Pidgin cepes and chanterelles on toast... Yummy!!!
June 4, 2011 - Dark purple color. Almost Pinot-like aromas with a salty meat component. Fresh black cherry on the palate. Probably doesn't have the acidity to last another 10 years, but this is in a nice sweet spot right now.
December 5, 2009 - Big, bright, rich and meaty. really came into its own after 3 hours. Ri