Fantastic as ever. Old vine serine whose preservation Kermit helped facilitate. Now to everyone’s benefit. A perfectly sequenced parade of dark and inky fruit mixed with herbs and smoke, from the nose to the extended finish. Now time to restock.
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Took top place in our blind tasting of Northern Rhone (all subregions represented), by a wide margin. Score one for Serine grape; this is 100% Serine. One of the only Northern Rhônes I drink and keep with regularity.
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Imported by Kermit Lynch). Vines planted between 1937 and 1976. 0.9 ha. Aged for 15 months in oak demi-muids (600L) and barrels (220L). ________________
Color: Med-dark to dark ruby.
This wine was significantly better two days later on vacuvin. Which bodes will for the future of this wine.
Nose: At this young age (late-2023), very primary, classic northern Rhône nose of smoky black/purple plum, blackberry, black olive, black licorice, violet, with a kiss of fusel smoke.
Palate: Med-full body. Black plum, blackberry, black raspberry, and blk olive Syrah fruit. Light on its feet but with a rich, sweet mid-palate, yet tart finish. Soft tannins. 14% alc.
I adore the 'soul' by this wine. Drinks fine now. Still, this would be better with more bottle age.
91 pts. Delicious and primary now. Best drinking window: 2025 to 2030. This will develop smokey, dried-cherry red fruits with age.
JGH sommelier CMS-III, San Francisco/BayArea, CA.
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Deep, dark reddish-purple in color; essentially opaque. Full, forward & attractive nose of ripe fruit aromas of cherries, blueberries & cassis with overtones of floral notes of violets & earthy/dusty notes, spices, pepper, minerals, a hint of garrigue & oak/vanilla in the background. Full bodied with a very good concentration of well balanced & smooth textured, ripe fruit flavors of cherries, blackberries & plums with spices, herbs, minerals & a touch of oak/vanilla. Lingering finish. Drinks well with decanting & extended airing but has the fruit & structure to continue developing with additional aging at which time it may merit a higher score (92+).
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4/30/2024 - scorbett Likes this wine:
As before but now taking on a nice richness and further complexity with this touch of age.
This SKU is more olives and herbs, whereas their standard Ribaudes St Jo is pepper and red fruit (also lovely).
This one seems to really start to pick up once it passes about 3 years from harvest.
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1/21/2024 - JonBarnes1 Likes this wine:
Fantastic as ever. Old vine serine whose preservation Kermit helped facilitate. Now to everyone’s benefit. A perfectly sequenced parade of dark and inky fruit mixed with herbs and smoke, from the nose to the extended finish. Now time to restock.
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12/31/2023 - JonBarnes1 Likes this wine:
Took top place in our blind tasting of Northern Rhone (all subregions represented), by a wide margin. Score one for Serine grape; this is 100% Serine. One of the only Northern Rhônes I drink and keep with regularity.
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12/7/2023 - Jon Harrison Likes this wine: 91 Points
Imported by Kermit Lynch). Vines planted between 1937 and 1976. 0.9 ha. Aged for 15 months in oak demi-muids (600L) and barrels (220L).
________________
Color: Med-dark to dark ruby.
This wine was significantly better two days later on vacuvin. Which bodes will for the future of this wine.
Nose: At this young age (late-2023), very primary, classic northern Rhône nose of smoky black/purple plum, blackberry, black olive, black licorice, violet, with a kiss of fusel smoke.
Palate: Med-full body. Black plum, blackberry, black raspberry, and blk olive Syrah fruit. Light on its feet but with a rich, sweet mid-palate, yet tart finish. Soft tannins. 14% alc.
I adore the 'soul' by this wine. Drinks fine now. Still, this would be better with more bottle age.
91 pts.
Delicious and primary now.
Best drinking window: 2025 to 2030.
This will develop smokey, dried-cherry red fruits with age.
JGH sommelier CMS-III, San Francisco/BayArea, CA.
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10/16/2023 - MattMauldin Likes this wine:
Wine & Spirits Top 100 Wineries Tasting Event - Quick Impressions - Oct 11: Generous black plum and berry with cracked peppercorn, rosemary, camphor & mesquite. Broadly framed but sturdy with grip and balance.
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6/25/2023 - Vinnut Likes this wine: 91 Points
Deep, dark reddish-purple in color; essentially opaque. Full, forward & attractive nose of ripe fruit aromas of cherries, blueberries & cassis with overtones of floral notes of violets & earthy/dusty notes, spices, pepper, minerals, a hint of garrigue & oak/vanilla in the background. Full bodied with a very good concentration of well balanced & smooth textured, ripe fruit flavors of cherries, blackberries & plums with spices, herbs, minerals & a touch of oak/vanilla. Lingering finish. Drinks well with decanting & extended airing but has the fruit & structure to continue developing with additional aging at which time it may merit a higher score (92+).
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5/1/2023 - scorbett Likes this wine:
Great syrah typicity with a little cut of wintergreen tucked in there. Awesome value Rhone.
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