Farconnet Hermitage Syrah

Great producers make great wine even in meh vintages. Classic northern Rhone sryah. Bacon, tar, almost dried red fruit, thyme. Light for the AOC, but expected for the vintage.

hits all the right notes, and priced well.

Thanks Jay Clark

Proof again that vintages don't make great wine, winemakers and vineyards do. I detested 2007 in the Rhône for being too hot and ripe, but after a six hour decant and some balancing with roasted lamb and duck fat-sherry roasted onions, this was incredible. Tight without food, but expressive and savory with restrained tart cherry and nicely resolved, powdery tannins once treated properly. Peppery only toward the finish, but otherwise a flawless experience.

Sauvage, animal and really savory aromatics of white pepper, dried black olive, soy, graphite and earth. Supple fruit notes of cassis and plum. Intense and full on the palate dominated by savory notes.

Opens with meaty, earthy notes to accent the white pepper and green olive spice tones. Fruit is dark plum and cassis. Great texture with lovely composed, round tannins. Black fruit is still dominate on the palate. While this is delightful it is missing the depth, length and sheer richness of really great Hermitage.

This was a powerhouse.

Bright nose with aromas of cassis, plum, black olive, white pepper and mace. The wine has good richness with a glycerol texture that accents the plum, tapenade, all spice and graphite flavors. Tannins are nicely resolved. Based on this bottle the wine is reaching its peak drinking period.

Great roasted meat and cherries

It's ok. But too dry for my taste. Will not buy again.