2009 Bernard Faurie St. Joseph

Community Tasting Notes (10) Avg Score: 90.6 points

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  2/2/2024 - JohnMcIlwain Likes this wine:

  A little more muted and showing its age than my last bottle. A fine aged Syrah of character but alas, not distinction. Some dark hedge fruit and stank on the attack, blue fruit and earth emerge on the palate, a touch more oxidation than is ideal. And a bit of drying on the finish. The suppleness of the fruit is losing ground to a some of the tannic structure and tarry notes. There may have been some blocked maturity due to the hot vintage. More than drinkable now but I wouldn’t rush out and trade my Hermitage bottlings for this particular bottle. Quite passable, but not quite transcendent with pan-roasted lamb chops with green olives, Borlotti beans, and wilted greens. Good, but not quite what I expect given the vigneron. Will see how this shows with cheeses tonight, but I suspect this will drop off on day two.

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  10/8/2023 - drwine2001 wrote:

  Sunday Northern Rhône Survey (San Francisco): Medium ruby with a faded edge. Blue fruit on the nose. Medium bodied. Very discrete fruit at 14 years of age with an additional squirt of citrus, excellent acidity, and rising soil and minerality toward the finish. Traditional, quite elegant, just about completely mature, and very satisfying now.

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  5/21/2023 - JohnMcIlwain Likes this wine:

  A bit more structured than my last bottle. Darker fruit, more loamy soil character, deeper pitched overall. Maybe a touch more tannic upon opening than the vintage warrants. I like this even if I’m not smitten. Very good, if not exalted. Certainly fits within the category.

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  11/9/2021 - Kiranonwine Likes this wine:

  This wine is finally showing at its best after years of being tightly closed. Even a year ago at 11 years I wondered if it would ever come round before fading out. After 2-3 hours decant a lovely nose of black candied fruit, smoke, grilled meat and toasted herbs. Makes you want to fire up the BBQ. Medium plus body, fine but firm tannins that sit firmly on your tongue, mouth watering acidity. Concentrated and complex, tart fruit mixed with fruit tart and a lovely savoury long finish. Excellent. Glad I have a bottle left and don’t feel any hurry to drink it up.

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  1/20/2021 - LT98 wrote: 92 Points

  Opened on Inauguration Day with venison chops. Had a 30 min decant. Soft tannins, bright but dark fruit. Very mineral-driven for a Syrah with bright acidity. Notes of violets and more muted tar/leather notes. Drinking very well right now but should last a few more years at least.

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View all 10 Community Tasting Notes

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