Still pretty primary. Never really came around in 3+ hours open. Opened up a bit, but it never really felt "ready". It was good, very complex fruit and light herbal notes with a very strong acidity and med/heavy body. I could get a hint of some maturity just starting, but honestly, I think this needs another decade to mature, based on this bottle.
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Needed an hour out of frig to get to 54 and aerate a bit; I poured it into decanter for 25 minutes, after bottle sat for an hour. Chalk and clay, then smoked oysters and lime marmalade, bitter orange soda, white pepper, butter toffee, a beautiful and complex bouquet. Some acacia honey pushing out. Medium body, fairly long, seems at peak, or maybe just slightly past it. Drink before 2025. Good acidity, vibrant and evolving in the mouth, mirroring the aromas, with jasmine tea, pimenton, white flowers, forest floor, and a hint of light caramel on the finish. Too complex and rich for my seared skate in lemon butter caper sauce, but worked great w asian spiced fried cauliflower. It would be exciting cold with fish and chips, or warmer with a veal stew. Avoid delicate seafood, most shellfish (except funky oysters); turkey leg better than chicken breast. Help the wine shine.
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Nez complexe, prune, pêche, miel , acacia, chèvrefeuille, vanille. Long et équilibré, mais acidité encore bien présente. Peut-être ouvert trop tôt? Mais bon , c’est mon anniversaire..
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Couleur jaune pâle. Nez discret, délicat sur fruit confit et des notes florales. En bouche tout est en finesse, bel équilibre, ample et d'une belle longueur. Très agréable
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Nose: Honey, herbs, marzipan, and stonefruit. Palate: Mineral and mouth-coating. Quite a bit of melon, honey, solvent, and acid. Somewhat floral and herbal as well. Hint of citrus and salt. Lingering finish. Still young.
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This is a beautiful wine that, in 2018, is still far too young to drink if your wine is cellared properly. Approximately 70% Marsanne; 30% Roussanne.
The colour is starting to turn to a golden hay and it looks like it will be more flabby and richer than it is. But there is still so much acidity and mineral quality to this wine at present. The wine is very tight and holding so much back. Focused. Apricot kernels, white flowers, a bit of mature lemon grass, with an ever so slight hint of honeysuckle trying to emerge. Complex, entirely interesting, and thoroughly enjoyable. Definitely a food wine and it will become more so as it ages. Try again in 2023.
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Very nice tonight with rich, unctuous, earthy tropical and stone fruit with baking spice undertones. To my tastes this is fully mature and I'll be drinking up my last bottle in the nearish future.
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Very nice structure, almost like a red wine. Paired perfectly with the tricky combination of whitefish roe, cornichons and shallot on smoked reindeer and sweet rye bread. Later in the night it outperformed Gaia & Rey Chardonnay! Truly enjoyable.
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Blind tasting of wines from Northern Rhône. Restrained nose with reluctant notes of stone fruits, white peaches, limestone, herbs and somewhat vegetal tones. Appears quite tranquil and balanced, with medium-strong acid and strong yet well-integrated alcohol. Flavors of stone fruits, yellow plum, limestone, spiciness and subtle notes of well-integrated wood. Long-lasting finish. Elegantly structured wine, which still appears rather young, therefore requiring a decent decant.
Blindverkostung Nördliche Rhône. Zurückhaltend mit dezenten Aromen nach Steinobst, weißem Pfirsich, Kalk, Kräutern und etwas grünlichen Anklängen. Im Mund sehr ruhig wirkend, mittelkräftige Säure, kräftigem aber gut integriertem Alkohol. Ebenfalls gut integriertes Holz. In der Nase finden sich Aromen von Steinobst, Mirabelle, Kalk und dezente Kräuterwürze. Langer Abgang. Sehr strukturiert und elegant. Der Wein braucht viel Luft und wirkt noch recht verschlossen sowie zu jung.
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This was extraordinary tonight with rich, unctous tropical, citrus and stone fruit, baking spice( mostly nutmeg), subtle petrol notes, firm minerality at its core and a long, satisfying finish. Quite excellent and drinking beautifully tonight.
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Delicious marmalade and honey brioche, green apple, cantaloupe rind, tangerine lead to a rich butter cream and almond nut mouth feel with honeysuckle and acacia aromatics. Crisp acidity, crushed rock minerality make this balanced beauty of Marsanne and Roussanne a twin brother of a fine Burgundy
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This is one of the best Hermitage, fruit and power, well balanced with a taste of its potential. Looking forward to drinking this wine 5-10 years from now.
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This is very nice tonight with a soft, subtle nose of stone fruit, honey suckle, orange blossom, abit of baking spice and flint, all of which carried seamlessly through to the palate as rich, penetrating, well delineated flavors upheld by a brisk acidic core and firm minerality. Quite delicious and coming along nicely.
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Continues to drink superbly well. This is what good white Hermitage is all about a beautiful weight of fruit, freshened by laser like minerality. All held very well in balance. Great structure, depth and mouthfeel. I am excited about the way this estate is coming back - this is up there with the 'big boys'. This would rival most top burgundy at half the price. Ace.
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Very intriguing nose of stone fruit, baking spice, wax, floral notes and hot rocks. These qualities all carry through to the palate along with some tropical fruit notes, although tonight, the presentation is abit on the austere side and then softens on the long mineral driven finish. This is quite nice, abit young and seems to have a lot of potential.
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Elegant, yet powerful nose with beewax, liquorice, yellow apples and tomatoes. On the palate it is spicy, fruit-driven with honey melon, apple and cough medicine. Clearly a terrific wine, but this will not speak to everyones palate. The spiciness is rather present and it lacks in fruit to be really balanced. Still, it went wonderful with grilled salmon.
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Rich nose of toasted walnuts, buttered corn, wet stone, pears and citrus blossoms. Sophisticated flavors of spicy pears, minerals, crisp lime and pastry. Crisp acidity and tons of structure. Tour de force.
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A refreshing nose of lemon, lime, crushed stone and burning embers opens to a medium/full bodied wine with silky tannins, ending with a long fresh, Meyer lemon, minerality infused finish.
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10/1/2022 - ericindc Likes this wine: 91 Points
Still pretty primary. Never really came around in 3+ hours open. Opened up a bit, but it never really felt "ready". It was good, very complex fruit and light herbal notes with a very strong acidity and med/heavy body. I could get a hint of some maturity just starting, but honestly, I think this needs another decade to mature, based on this bottle.
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2/2/2021 - OenoEd Likes this wine: 94 Points
Needed an hour out of frig to get to 54 and aerate a bit; I poured it into decanter for 25 minutes, after bottle sat for an hour. Chalk and clay, then smoked oysters and lime marmalade, bitter orange soda, white pepper, butter toffee, a beautiful and complex bouquet. Some acacia honey pushing out. Medium body, fairly long, seems at peak, or maybe just slightly past it. Drink before 2025. Good acidity, vibrant and evolving in the mouth, mirroring the aromas, with jasmine tea, pimenton, white flowers, forest floor, and a hint of light caramel on the finish. Too complex and rich for my seared skate in lemon butter caper sauce, but worked great w asian spiced fried cauliflower. It would be exciting cold with fish and chips, or warmer with a veal stew. Avoid delicate seafood, most shellfish (except funky oysters); turkey leg better than chicken breast. Help the wine shine.
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9/30/2019 - lambomiura Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nez complexe, prune, pêche, miel , acacia, chèvrefeuille, vanille. Long et équilibré, mais acidité encore bien présente. Peut-être ouvert trop tôt? Mais bon , c’est mon anniversaire..
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8/3/2019 - bablues wrote: 94 Points
Didn't take detailed notes but this was fabulous and paired perfectly with watermelon salad and seared scallops.
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5/31/2019 - Renevin Likes this wine: 95 Points
Couleur jaune pâle. Nez discret, délicat sur fruit confit et des notes florales. En bouche tout est en finesse, bel équilibre, ample et d'une belle longueur.
Très agréable
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6/30/2018 - mmcdds wrote: 91 Points
Drinking beautifully tonight.
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6/16/2018 - ElGreco Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nose: Honey, herbs, marzipan, and stonefruit.
Palate: Mineral and mouth-coating. Quite a bit of melon, honey, solvent, and acid. Somewhat floral and herbal as well. Hint of citrus and salt. Lingering finish. Still young.
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5/8/2018 - CharlesHK Likes this wine: 92 Points
This is a beautiful wine that, in 2018, is still far too young to drink if your wine is cellared properly. Approximately 70% Marsanne; 30% Roussanne.
The colour is starting to turn to a golden hay and it looks like it will be more flabby and richer than it is. But there is still so much acidity and mineral quality to this wine at present. The wine is very tight and holding so much back. Focused. Apricot kernels, white flowers, a bit of mature lemon grass, with an ever so slight hint of honeysuckle trying to emerge. Complex, entirely interesting, and thoroughly enjoyable. Definitely a food wine and it will become more so as it ages. Try again in 2023.
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2/25/2018 - mmcdds Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very nice tonight with rich, unctuous, earthy tropical and stone fruit with baking spice undertones. To my tastes this is fully mature and I'll be drinking up my last bottle in the nearish future.
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11/12/2017 - larsum Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very nice structure, almost like a red wine. Paired perfectly with the tricky combination of whitefish roe, cornichons and shallot on smoked reindeer and sweet rye bread. Later in the night it outperformed Gaia & Rey Chardonnay! Truly enjoyable.
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11/3/2016 - MNig Likes this wine: 90 Points
Blind tasting of wines from Northern Rhône. Restrained nose with reluctant notes of stone fruits, white peaches, limestone, herbs and somewhat vegetal tones. Appears quite tranquil and balanced, with medium-strong acid and strong yet well-integrated alcohol. Flavors of stone fruits, yellow plum, limestone, spiciness and subtle notes of well-integrated wood. Long-lasting finish. Elegantly structured wine, which still appears rather young, therefore requiring a decent decant.
Blindverkostung Nördliche Rhône. Zurückhaltend mit dezenten Aromen nach Steinobst, weißem Pfirsich, Kalk, Kräutern und etwas grünlichen Anklängen. Im Mund sehr ruhig wirkend, mittelkräftige Säure, kräftigem aber gut integriertem Alkohol. Ebenfalls gut integriertes Holz. In der Nase finden sich Aromen von Steinobst, Mirabelle, Kalk und dezente Kräuterwürze. Langer Abgang. Sehr strukturiert und elegant. Der Wein braucht viel Luft und wirkt noch recht verschlossen sowie zu jung.
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8/20/2016 - mmcdds Likes this wine: 94 Points
This was extraordinary tonight with rich, unctous tropical, citrus and stone fruit, baking spice( mostly nutmeg), subtle petrol notes, firm minerality at its core and a long, satisfying finish. Quite excellent and drinking beautifully tonight.
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4/6/2016 - gsquireh Likes this wine: 96 Points
Delicious marmalade and honey brioche, green apple, cantaloupe rind, tangerine lead to a rich butter cream and almond nut mouth feel with honeysuckle and acacia aromatics. Crisp acidity, crushed rock minerality make this balanced beauty of Marsanne and Roussanne a twin brother of a fine Burgundy
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2/28/2016 - yofog wrote:
Straw-gold with touches of green, bright. Gorgeous nose, rich and elegant. On the palate, broad, savory, and complex. Excellent. From magnum.
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2/15/2016 - mmcdds Likes this wine: 93 Points
This was excellent tonight. Rich and unctuous with lots of depth and complexity.
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11/7/2015 - fbpe Likes this wine: 92 Points
This is one of the best Hermitage, fruit and power, well balanced with a taste of its potential. Looking forward to drinking this wine 5-10 years from now.
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8/17/2015 - Thefatbastard wrote:
Excellent, très gras et long. Nez complexe. Superbe!
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8/14/2015 - mmcdds Likes this wine: 92 Points
This is very nice tonight with a soft, subtle nose of stone fruit, honey suckle, orange blossom, abit of baking spice and flint, all of which carried seamlessly through to the palate as rich, penetrating, well delineated flavors upheld by a brisk acidic core and firm minerality. Quite delicious and coming along nicely.
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12/28/2014 - Butty wrote: 95 Points
Continues to drink superbly well. This is what good white Hermitage is all about a beautiful weight of fruit, freshened by laser like minerality. All held very well in balance. Great structure, depth and mouthfeel. I am excited about the way this estate is coming back - this is up there with the 'big boys'. This would rival most top burgundy at half the price. Ace.
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4/13/2014 - erwing Likes this wine: 93 Points
Frisk, något smörig, fruktig doft med toner av persika och mandel. Välbalanserad frisk och intensiv smak.
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1/20/2014 - mmcdds Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very intriguing nose of stone fruit, baking spice, wax, floral notes and hot rocks. These qualities all carry through to the palate along with some tropical fruit notes, although tonight, the presentation is abit on the austere side and then softens on the long mineral driven finish. This is quite nice, abit young and seems to have a lot of potential.
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8/26/2013 - Dovberg wrote: 91 Points
Elegant, yet powerful nose with beewax, liquorice, yellow apples and tomatoes. On the palate it is spicy, fruit-driven with honey melon, apple and cough medicine. Clearly a terrific wine, but this will not speak to everyones palate. The spiciness is rather present and it lacks in fruit to be really balanced. Still, it went wonderful with grilled salmon.
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7/23/2013 - kosinski wrote:
Rich nose of toasted walnuts, buttered corn, wet stone, pears and citrus blossoms. Sophisticated flavors of spicy pears, minerals, crisp lime and pastry. Crisp acidity and tons of structure. Tour de force.
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3/7/2013 - Jeff Leve wrote: 91 Points
A refreshing nose of lemon, lime, crushed stone and burning embers opens to a medium/full bodied wine with silky tannins, ending with a long fresh, Meyer lemon, minerality infused finish.
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