2011 Hermitage
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Tasting notes
Seemingly a bit past its best, the 2011 Hermitage Domaine des Tourettes is starting to dry out, with leather and dried cherries giving way to notes of decay and dried leaves. While still pleasant, it should be consumed within the next year or so. This was tasted from the winery's library, so it seems unlikely to have been a poor bottle. Here's hoping that any you might have cellared are in better shape.
Critic scores
Jeb Dunnuck
Josh Raynolds
More reviews and scores
Inky ruby. Intense black and blue fruit aromas are complemented by notes of cola, roasted coffee and violet. Stains the palate with intense blueberry, floral pastille and anise flavors sweetened by a touch of mocha. Supple tannins build on the finish, which lingers with impressive tenacity and appealing floral character. Pretty elegant for an Hermitage, and approachable now.
Lurid ruby. Fresh plum, blackcurrant, espresso and spicy oak on the perfumed nose. Sweet, chewy and nicely concentrated, with vibrant, primary flavors of succulent berries and candied licorice. Intense, youthful and long, finishing with firm but thoroughly ripe tannins and a jolt of minerality.
Starting off the 2011s, both of which were tasted out of bottle numerous times, the 2011 Hermitage Domaine de Tourettes is another blockbuster from this producer. Full-bodied, rich, layered and voluptuously textured, it offers up a beautiful bouquet of smoked herbs, leather, ground pepper and assorted meaty nuances that are grounded by a rich core of cassis and darker berry fruit. While a big wine, it has remarkable freshness and purity, serious mid-palate depth and silky tannin, all of which allow it to dish out loads of pleasure, even now. Enjoy it over the coming 15-20 years. ||Run by Jacques Grange and Claire Darnaud, Delas, which is owned by the Louis Roederer-Deutz Champagne firm, is producing no nonsense, extremely high quality efforts that are near the top of each of their respective appellations. I was consistently impressed by the wines, and they stood out in all of the larger tastings that I was able to do. In addition, I was able to taste the wines again at the domain, and again once back in the states. These are serious efforts worthy of attention. As to the Hermitages, they produce two, a standard Domaine des Tourettes, and in top vintages, the Les Bessards. In addition to the top-flight Cote Rotie and Hermitage releases, this estate produces a bevy of high quality efforts from Cornas and Saint Joseph. Wine Advocate.December, 2013