| Recently tasted at FH's farewell dinner at Matteo's, 2/11/2002. The colour is deep garnet, and despite being 13 years old, still a tight dark red rim. The nose is magnificent, a melange of fruit and spice - black cherries, bramble, white pepper with a hint of dried cloves. On the palate, the powerful core of sweet fruit is evident without being cloying or overpowering. More black cherries and currants with hints of plum, laced with pepper/spice and layered with fine silky tannins giving a velvety mouth feel. It evolved in the glass over the course of dinner, with secondary characteristics of smoky tar and dried tobacco leaves coming through, then toning down to dried fruits blended with old leather. The sweet fruit remains throughout, lingering in a very long finish. This is a supremely exciting and classy wine, and I now understand why so much fuss is made about top Hermitage reds from the top producers! Thanks, FH, for sharing this gem with us! |
