01/01. Bought at auction, Feb-2000 for $150.
A Hermitage by a good producer from a fine vintage is surely among the very best wines in the world. Chave (and Jaboulet) are certainly the top producers for this "manliest wine of France".
We opened a bottle for an intimate Friday night dinner at home. Succulent Lasagna for starters and roasted Quail in spices and honey for main course were delicious accompaniment for this great wine.
COLOR: Deep purple. Pretty dark color, though not as jet-black as some Rhone wines. Some clearing around the rim.
NOSE: Wonderful nose of red and black forest fruit. Animal notes as well as raw meat, spices and other complex elements. The nose behaved in a somewhat strange way. Every pour from the decanter [yes, we did decant this young wine in order to help it open up] resulted in a fresh power boost to the nose. While it lasted, the nose felt quite open and forward. After a while in the glass the nose weakened considerably, only to regain its zest with a fresh pour...
TASTE: Wow! Mouth-filling, rich, multi-dimensional and full of vigor. Deep flavors, plenty of winyness, fantastic grip and great focus. Tannins are obvious but round as is the good acidity. A wonderful and tasty wine in every respect.
LENGTH: Infinitely long and reverberating aftertaste.
TEXTURE & BALANCE: Full bodied and well endowed. Still somewhat short of being completely harmonized, but already highly drinkable. A big wine with a lot of personality that is superbly balanced.
OVERALL: Outstanding!! A truly great example of what Hermitage is all about. Will be even better in five years or so.

MARK: 19/20.

BUY MORE? Yes.

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Jacob "Yak" Shaya.