Really enjoyed this. One of the few times could actually taste the things in the tasting notes (lots of cherry here). Very fruit forward, but not sweet, decanted for an hour plus — 8 months ago
A little sweetness. Good balance — 4 years ago
Wow. Layers. Burgundy ringer — 3 months ago
Выпито 28.07.24 в Oyster Puesto bar с командой Blue Reef в день рождения Савваса. — 5 months ago
Again, these are love it or hate it style wines, and I fall on the “love it” side every single time. This was part of a blind lineup for “Rhône style wines”. These wines are a bit difficult not to identify in a blind lineup due to their distinctive aromatics.
My note here is pretty similar to the 2011 I opened a year and a half ago. In true to Christophe Baron style, this is a savory packed punch wrapped in elegance. Aromatically, it’s a heady display of soy, teriyaki, green olive, peppercorn crusted smoked meats, currant and spicy rhubarb. At 10yrs, the palate is almost a dead ringer for high end northern Rhône Syrah. The savory/iron driven components from the nose continue but there is great acid followed by stems, herbs de Provence and lots of wildflowers/potpourri for a floral finish. I found the 2011 to have a lighter/more floral profile, but this one certainly has more stuffing and aging potential. This seems to just now be entering a peak drinking window.
Also in the lineup was a 2014 Hors Categorie (also from Christophe Baron), and I found the 2012 HP to taste younger, while the 2014 HC had a bit more heft in the mid-palate. Love both. — 2 years ago
2011 vintage. Decanted with some sed and tasted after 1 hour. Bigg structure with plenty of tobacco, underbrush and dark fruit. A complex kid. Lots of moving parts but really unified currently and moving towards a common goal. Total BDX ringer in a pricey blind. This has miles to go. 8.2.24. — 4 months ago
John Howard
Harvest production at Hirsch and Cobb Wineries
So insane! Killer value. Dead ringer for a high end northern Rhone. — 2 months ago