2017 Sheridan L'Orage
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Tasting notes
Bright, dark red with ruby tones. Distinct Cabernet Franc herbal lift to the aromas of currant, black plum, licorice, spices and tobacco leaf. At once ripe and juicy, with a captivating cocoa powder sweetness to its currant, plum and spice flavors. Displays more shape and energy than the Cabernet Sauvignon and Mystique bottlings, perhaps owing to the Franc influence. The herbal element gives the wine more lift and an impression of higher acidity. Glossy mineral-driven wine with a tight core of fruits and dark chocolate. Here, too, the tannins are present but fine-grained and ripe. This should develop gracefully in bottle.
Critic scores
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
A blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc, the 2017 L'Orage is ample and generous on the nose with aromas of fruit leather, sage, blueberry, roasted bell pepper and hints of black raspberry. Full-bodied, the wine has a generous profile with dried cranberries, baking spices and hints of fig. The wine concludes with a long, evolving finish that offers up spiced chocolate, dried currants and a cinnamon-spiced blackberry reduction. The wine rested for 30 months in French oak, 50% first fill. 30,000 bottles produced.
The Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated 2017 L’Orage is a deeply hued red that has a rich bouquet of black plums, Asian spices, violets, and mountain scrub brush. It says fresh and lively on the palate, with good acidity, and has medium-bodied richness and depth, terrific balance, and a lengthy finish. It’s approachable today and shows the elegant, seamless style of the vintage, yet it’s going to evolve for a solid 15 years or more in cold cellars.