2013 Hermitage Les Bessards
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Tasting notes
(aged in 70% new oak for 18 months): Inky ruby. Sexy, highly perfumed aromas of ripe dark berries, cherry liqueur, peppery spices and fresh flowers, backed by a hint of olive. Supple and appealingly sweet, offering intense, deeply concentrated blackberry and violet pastille flavors and a suggestion of star anise. Finishes pure, sweet and energetic on the penetrating finish, showing outstanding focus and slow-building tannins.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Closed, tight and backwards, the 2013 Hermitage les Bessards is a big, full-bodied, burly wine that offers first rate purity in its black raspberry, ozone, liquid rock, and creosote-like bouquet. It has plenty of material and density, but will need 7-8 years of bottle age to become approachable. As normal, it comes all from the “Bas de Coteau” portion of the Bessards lieu-dit, was completely destemmed and saw 18 months in 30% new French oak.
Inky purple. Seductively perfumed aromas of dark berry liqueur, fruitcake, incense and candied flowers, with a smoky mineral note emerging with air. Offers deeply pitched blueberry, bitter cherry and licorice pastille flavors, along with an oak spice nuance that sneaks in slowly. Weighty, spicy and surprisingly lively on the finish, displaying excellent clarity and smooth, harmonious tannins.
Cask sample. Aged in oak . Dark purple. Open nose with lots of interest going on there. Sweet start and very flattering for a Hermitage! Extraordinary ripeness and richness. More accessible than the Delas Domaine des Tourettes tasted just before. Opulent. Sweet for a Hermitage. (JR)