Her Mir Tage

9.6

The Legendary 1990 and 2005 Vintages, and the 'Rouge' Aroma They Revealed!

I was meeting friends for a tasting, and I said I would bring a wine with a "rouge aroma" (*Yānzhī xiāng*). My friend also promised to open one with the same scent. If it's a cool vintage, a DRC might not reveal that distinctive rouge scent, but it's more common in warmer vintages, especially older ones from hot years. Of course, 2005 is a legendary vintage—it was warm but with significant diurnal temperature variation, resulting in balanced acidity and concentration, which also creates a very strong structure.

Thankfully, the 1990 Clos de Tart, despite having a very low fill level, wasn't spoiled. Its condition wasn't as potent as a previous bottle I had opened. This one took about 1.5 hours to fully open up in the glass. When it did, it revealed that signature Jiangnan "rouge" scent—very soft, enchanting, and feminine—along with some notes of dried longan. The fruit was balanced, though the acidity was relatively weak.

Today, I'll mainly write about this DRC. Its structure is incredibly powerful. For the first two hours, it was very closed. I believe this wine needed at least four hours of decanting, primarily because the 2005s, despite being a warm year, aren't that easy to open up. The aromas only started to slowly emerge around the third hour, and we were using large decanters and glasses, waiting for a long time. Initially, for the first half-hour after opening, there was a reductive note that was a bit funky. Later, after it opened up, the nose was primarily an interplay of cypress pine, violets, and that rouge scent intertwined. Honestly, this wine felt androgynous to me—it evokes an image of a knight and a princess playing in a forest. It wasn't overly soft, and its layers were incredibly complex.

On the palate, it was abundant: primarily black fruit, sour plum, sandalwood, coffee beans, a hint of dark chocolate, and a touch of earthy notes. The tannins weren't very soft—but then again, I'm so accustomed to drinking old wines. I feel this wine will need another 10 years to truly reach its peak. Its structure is exceptionally strong, unfolding layer by layer, with beautifully balanced acidity.

Comparing these two wines, their styles are completely different. One could say it's a contrast between an iconic Eastern beauty and a Western princess. I personally adore the soft and elegant style, but the 2005 is a wine with immense structure—it possesses a feminine power that is very potent, almost like the vision of a woman holding authority in a man's world.

Drinking such magnificent wines brings me great joy! — a month ago

Lolis Elie

9.1

Beautiful, fun, soft with just enough bite. — 2 years ago

Lauren

9.6

Really good! $60$ish — 3 months ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.7

Disgorged August 2018. Initial with a little age is just incredible and really allows it to reach its full potential. 2018 disgorgement is showing fabulously, totally in the zone with distinctive Selossien aromatics, a rich, powerful and textural palate with racy acids and a chalky mineral core. There’s both freshness and integrated oxidative complexity yielding a complete, balanced and seamless Champagne. Nothing like Selosse 💛 — 9 months ago

Jan A

9.6

Still could use another 5 years to reach its peak. 98+ potential — 2 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

When I’m not drinking a Napa Cab, I reach for a Jordon. Blend of 80% Cab Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot & 2% Malbec, aged 13 months in 100% French oak (35% new). Deep Ruby with aromas of red fruit, floral and an array of spices. On the palate flavors of cherry, blackberry and fig with oak, vanilla spice, leather and cacao notes. Rich fine tannins, well balanced and integrated with fruit and oak. Very Nice! Will age well. Grab a NY Strip Steak with all the trimmings! — 2 years ago

Stephen Fitzpatrick

9.0

Great balance of earthy and fruit tones, heavy berry aromas on the nose, crisp taste and solid finish. 2022 vintage is excellent, opened up nicely after 30-45 minutes. — 7 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.4

A blend from several vineyards, including Middle Reach, Green Valley, Santa Rosa Plain, and the Laguna Ridge area. Bright Ruby color, purple edges, with aromas of ripe fruits, floral and complex spice. On the palate concentrated flavors of raspberry, cherry and currants with pepper, tea, herbs, vanilla and oak, aged on French oak, soft tannins on well balanced structure. Full body, rich long finish, ending with spice, ripe fruit and oaky tones. Very Nice! — a year ago

Gor

9.3

Wonderfully balanced but mature. Wine from our wedding ten years ago. Getting close to its peak now. Strawberries, black cherries; Provence herbs, hint of leather on the nose. Fruit is starting to reach peak expression. Long finish. — 2 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.7

Deep scarlet color, almost opaque. Sweet fruit nose. Notes of red and black fruit, spice, some wood and moist dark earth. Has great complexity in the mouth. Awesome juice, but this bottle of the 61 did not reach the superlative heights of others we've had of this. — 2 years ago