Ericsson

9.3

The pinnacle of Syrah.

It opens with smoked meat, dried black olive, leather, and stone.

The palate is graceful and savory, where fading dark fruit, iron, and earth glide on silken, fully melted tannins.

Legendary Hermitage! — 7 days ago

Ron Siegel

9.4

Perfumed nose that is floral & silky showing dark fruits, smoked meat, olive, pepper, licorice, graphite & violets — a month ago

Kyle Belcher

9.4

Enjoyed with BBQ ribs. Black pepper on the palette, hint of green olive and dark fruit on the nose. Delicious. — 5 months ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days and frankly, this was spectacular throughout. The 2020 pours a deep, ruby-purple with an opaque core and a magenta rim; medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine smells like walking into a European delicatessen; developing with notes of mostly ripe and some tart, black, red and blue fruits. There’s mixed brambles, fig, blueberry, lavender, black pepper, olive brine, a melange of cool and warm baking spices and rocky earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. It’s been a couple of years since I last enjoyed this vintage of Graillot and it remains absolutely brilliant. Drink now through 2040. — 6 months ago

John Jaye

9.1

Very vibrant drink. Could age a bit longer — a month ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 2023 pours a ruby/purple color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with an explosion of smoked blackberry pie, purple flowers, bacon fat, olive, black pepper, and subtle warm spices. On the palate the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose however, the wine finishes much more elegant than the nose would suggest. The bouquet might lead one to think this is possibly over the top. However, on the palate, it was far more elegant. Another vintage, another stunning Gonon. Drink now through 2043. — a month ago

Shay A

9.2

I initially expected more based on vintage + producer, but also have to keep context in focus that this is Crozes-hermitage.

Followed over two days and very little changed.

I’m surprised at saying that after 48hrs for a C-H…I think this is in a weird phase/shut down. Powerful/heady aromatics (black fruits, olive, espresso). ABV pokes out a bit up front. Good mid-palate weight with peppered dark fruits, herbs and some iron before a curtain of tannin shuts this down hard. Undeniably Syrah at the finish with a rusticity I normally find in Cornas…dark florals, spice, graphite and some charcoal. A serious and structured C-H. — 6 months ago

Shay A

9.5

Opened for a buddy’s birthday, alongside a 2005 Tatty Comtes, 2015 Cristal, 2018 Realm Falstaff and 2023 Kobayashi M/R.

I still remember my first Allemand seven years ago and how it immediately reeled me in and every bottle since has been the exact same. The rusticity and feral nature of Cornas is why for me, as a Syrah fanboy, it’s the best and most pure region for this wonderful grape.

Removed cork about an hour before pouring. Initial notes of olive, black pepper spice and herbs, some smoked meat and a brief blood-orange citrus aromatic. Deep red/black in the glass. There’s a layer of brett (low level, adds to the intrigue, doesn’t detract) and lavender bouquet before peppered strip, herbs, raspberries and blackberries, and a sanguine tang hit the palate. Not sure of whole cluster use here but seems there’s a little bit (which I love). Wild but civilized. Medium-plus bodied with beautiful acidity and plenty of tannin for this to cruise years. On the early side, but these are so hard to resist in every phase.

I wish I could drink this every day. I need to find a wine of similar style at a better price point. — 16 days ago

Zach D

9.1

Pours a deep purple with ruby rim. Aromas of dark fruit (blackberry, blueberry), brambles, hint of vanilla as well as cola, Italian herbs as well. On the palate black fruit, chocolate, good acidity, supple tannins; good intensity, long finish; alcohol is definitely on the high end. It’s a big wine for what I usually drink. I think it’s a very good example of barbera. A gift from a friend. — 3 months ago

Ron Siegel

9.4

This was open & drinking well showing cherry, berry, plum fruit, game, pepper, olive with lots of mineral & spice — 7 months ago