Deep red, tart, mild to full body, hint of tobacco. — 2 months ago
As a wine professional, there are few greater pleasures than a bottle that surprises. All too often, our prejudices influence the experience which is why it’s so important to taste wines in double-blind fashion, and often. This bottle of 2005 Terlato Family Vineyards, “Cardinal’s Peak” blew me away. I don’t know anything about the wine making or fruit source but what was in the glass was simply beautiful.
Poured into a decanter about 90 minutes prior to service and then enjoyed over the course of a couple of hours. The 2005 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some light signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of mostly ripe, but also some dried black and red fruits: blackberries, black cherry, black plum, raspberry, pipe tobacco, the purple Now and Laters®️, oiled leather, purple flowers, dark chocolate, coffee, dried forest floor, and soft baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and overwhelmingly satisfying. A somewhat, no scratch that, remarkable wine. End stop. Drinking so well right now and absolutely in its prime. Don’t think twice to drink now to enjoy at its very best, but this will continue to drink well through 2030 if you must. 13.8% ABV. — 2 months ago
Power, poise and precision. Black fruit galore, spice, bacon and butcher shop, bonfire, smoke, olives, garrique - an incredible nose that gave me goosebumps. Perfect balance, immense intensity and just spot on. — 17 days ago
The grape variety is Marsanne, not Syrah.
Pronounced peach and honey aromas, some ginger, minerality, acacia and nutty aromas.
An elegant and savoury finish! — 2 months ago
Bora bora 2024 — 2 months ago
Jay Kline
Served with Fisherman’s Pasta - sablefish, mussels, saffron gnocchetti pasta, fennel, fresh baguette toast. Well stored Hermitage Blanc is a special experience and this bottle of 1999 “Le Méal” was no exception. Fascinating notes of clove, yellow flowers, apricot, marmalade, honeysuckle, and sunflower seed. Next to the Montrachet, the acid is perceived to be low and there’s an almost oily texture. Delicious. — 6 hours ago