2015 Emmanuel Darnaud Crozes-Hermitage Au Fil du Temps

Community Tasting Notes (7) Avg Score: 91.5 points

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View forceberry's profile
  • Report Issue

  7/22/2023 - forceberry wrote: 90 Points

  100% Syrah from 25 to 60 yo vineyards in Crozes-Hermitage. All the parcels are vinified separately over 15 days in concrete tanks and oak vats. Aged in new oak barrels (50%) and demi-muids or used, neutral oak barrels (50%) for 18 months. 13% alcohol.
  
  Dark, almost fully opaque blackish-red color with a purplish hue. The nose feels dark-toned, somewhat sweet-toned and a bit polished with rich aromas of juicy blackberries, some crushed peppercorns, a little bit of toasty oak spice, light ripe raspberry nuances, a hint of inky character and a faint creamy touch of diacetyl. The wine feels ripe, dense and juicy on the palate with a medium-to-moderately full body and dark-toned flavors of succulent blackberries, some crushed peppercorns, a little bit of gamey meat, light toasty notes of sweet mocha oak, crunchy hints of chokeberries and fresh black raspberries and a ferrous touch of blood. The wine is wonderfully high in acidity with the firm medium-plus tannins bringing additional grip and structure to the mouthfeel. The finish is dry, crunchy and moderately grippy with a long, juicy aftertaste of ripe blackberries and brambly black raspberries, some ferrous notes of blood, a little bit of gravelly minerality, light peppery tones, a hint of tart chokeberry and a toasty touch of sweet mocha oak.
  
  A surprisingly fresh, firm and crunchy effort for a 2015 Northern Rhône, showing great sense of precision and acidity. The overall feel is still rather toasty and oaky, but based on how relatively little age the wine shows now, at 8 years of age, I can imagine the wine will continue to age effortlessly for many years more. Although the wine probably won't be shedding all its oak, no matter how long it is aged, I can still imagine the sweeter and more toasty notes will integrate with the fruit over time. Although maybe a bit too modern and polished for my preference at the moment, I expect this wine will much better at 15 years of age. However, I still wish the producer would make the wines with less oak influence - I feel there's a terrific wine underneath, but the sweet and toasty mocha oak tones don't really complement that.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View Bakerbd's profile
  • Report Issue

  4/20/2023 - Bakerbd Likes this wine: 93 Points

  Ripe blackberry, black cherry, leather, mineral, layered and long

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View HolyBejeesus's profile
  • Report Issue

  6/7/2020 - HolyBejeesus Likes this wine: 92 Points

  In general I find myself gravitating away from French wines, but I thoroughly enjoyed this medium-bodied Rhone Syrah. Enjoyed some on its own and then had a glass with some pizza which proved a great matching as this is a food-friendly style. Jammy cherry flavors linger on, giving way to that classic minerality you find in this type of wine. I'd like to get my hands on some more to hold for a while before drinking.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View rc@ughey's profile
  • Report Issue

  4/5/2020 - rc@ughey wrote: 89 Points

  More shut down and compact than my previous bottle, but this is still tasty and an exceptional value. Will improve.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View billynorris's profile
  • Report Issue

  7/10/2019 - billynorris Likes this wine: 91 Points

  A little shut down at this phase, but shows tons of potential. Lots of structure to speak of, and the fruit is brooding just below the surface.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

View all 7 Community Tasting Notes

Professional reviews have copyrights and you can view them here for your personal use only as private content. To view pro reviews you must either subscribe to a pre-integrated publication or manually enter reviews below. Learn more.