M. Sorrel, Hermitage, Le Greal

Brought this one to share with the team during service, no decant Elegant, decadent, floral notes, sweet spices, coffee beans, a fine roasted-herbal layer underneath, candy notes. Palate is fully matured with a red fruit core, fine smooth tannins and med finish Aged gracefully

1990 vintage

Another corked bottle. Too bad, as there was nice fruit under the TCA.

1990 vintage

Pop and pour, cork broke when I almost had it all the way out. I immediately got worried based on earlier notes, but this bottle showed itself to be pristine. On the nose: soft bbq, cedar, olive brine, game, dried raspberry. Not quite as haunting as the 1980 Le meal I've had, but damn if it wasn't close. Lively and energetic on the palate: dried raspberry, fantastic acid, lovely savory note and soft tannin on the long finish. Absolutely stunning.

1990 vintage

Unlike other members, I had no issues with my bottle, and the wine is drinking really well. Decanted about 4 hours before drinking, which was about right. An elegant lady of a certain age. Not as ravishing as when she was young, but elegant and beautiful as only an older woman of impeccable class and intelligence can be.

1990 vintage

not spoiled but well past its 'use by' date - not rated

1990 vintage

[Blind] Lots of cork discussion around this bottle although I don’t see it. Maybe a stunted / muted finish but no obvious TCA to me. Smells a little like middle-aged Cabernet. Palate has soft edges and mellow tannin. Elegant and complex. Probably a less than perfect bottle, but unique and interesting.

1990 vintage

Ever so slightly corked, which wasn't apparent upon opening.

1990 vintage

Hard to tell if this bottle was on the way down or still needed another 5-10 years. Lots and lots of reduction; now nearly four hours after decanting, there's still a small bit of reduction. The wine is velvety and rich with raspberry and dark plum fruit, but not a lot of precision or delineation. Paradoxically, it's a rustic with with some elegance to it. Cellared since original release.

1990 vintage

Something was off here -- plenty of fruit but just tired and muted.

1990 vintage

A sound bottle. A bit muted on day 1 but opened up gloriously on day 2. Some olives and meats and tertiary fruit.

1990 vintage

I was really hoping this would be awesome. I suspect the bottle was mildly corked. However, it still had interesting herbal, fruit, and vegetal elements including celery and stems. Some pepper lurking too. Still a bit tannic. Complex on the palate. I wanted more intensity though, more aromatics, and more nuance. Seemed past peak so drink up. Others though the fruit was overripe due to the hot 1990 vintage.

1990 vintage

A Whole Lotta Chave Hermitage (Single Blind) (Chez Kailin) : Ringer in a flight of Chave 83/88/89/90. Something was awry here. Perhaps corked as it was muted and flact, but it wasn't distinctly corked.

1990 vintage

Shockingly young, in its dark color, and on the palate, which remains stuffed with ripe, dark fruits, tannins and energy. The wine gets going from the moment you sniff the peppery, dark red fruits, spice and earthy characteristics. The finish is long, fresh and loaded with peppery, vibrant fruits. This is good to go now, and should remain at this high level for at least 10-20 years. FWIW, I have had issues with bad bottles of the 1989, but at …

1990 vintage

Corked

1990 vintage

"A lovely old fashioned Hermitage", as my much lamented old friend Bristol411 wrote. Still young after all these years. The fruit is still fresh, and the structure is great - delicious lip-smacking tannins. Rich and savoury. This is great now, but I can't think anything bad is going to happen to it over the next few years. exc

1990 vintage

Cellared since release. Curiously younger and more closed than a bottle I had about 8-10 years ago. Dark fruits, very fresh, very good structure -- wait another 10 years on this, and it may still be showing well in another 30 years.

1990 vintage

Second time I've had this, second time it's been corked. Goddammit.

1990 vintage

Hermitage and other N. Rhones (Jeff K's.) : Lightly corked. At first blush, I didn't get it, but coming back after a few minutes it was there. Seems like a very nice wine under the TCA. A shame.

1990 vintage

Round Table dinner at Jake's (NYC) : Something's off here. Perhaps a little corked, but it's definitely rather awkward and doesn't seem like a representative bottle.

1990 vintage

Dusty basement; rubber; minerality/chlorine almost on the nose. Palate is great.

1990 vintage

Another Saturday at Knightsbridge - mostly blind (Northbrook, IL) : Tasted double blind. Popped, decanted and poured 15 minutes later. Dense black fruit aromas to start without much charm. Same black fruit on palate with lots of acids and tannins. Revisited again approximately 2 hours later, when it showed more spice and fruit came across as more ripe and nuanced.

1990 vintage

Excellent, leather, big

1990 vintage

Occasional tasting group: A mixed set.. (@ PB) : Doesn't give itself completely in the bouquet. There is some red fruit. Slightly mature on the palate. Red fruits and a bit dusty. The wine is not corked, but also not completely fresh. A bit unripe is the overall impression of this bottle, but according to the person who brought this wine other bottles were sublime. So no score.

1990 vintage

still young, needs time to open. dark brooding colour, no way is this 20 years old. some smoke and berry fruits, blood and spice in the mouth, but even after an hour still not too forward. But a lovely old fashioned Hermitage.

1990 vintage

Bryan's Dinner Party Offline (The Ledbury, London) : Almost purple on the rim, this looks far younger than it should. Quite a subdued nose. Very very young. Quite a tannic grip. Needs years on this showing ***(*?)

1990 vintage

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M. Sorrel, Hermitage, Le Greal

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