This was staggeringly good. It is intensely hued, as Hermitage should be, but with the brick red of age rather than the deep purple of youth. Pure, classic northern Rhone aromas of black fruit, smoke, and herbs soar upward from the glass. You almost want to inhale the whole glass, rather than do something as mundane as drink it. On the mouth, flavors follow what your nose expected you to find. The tannins that remain are fully resolved. By itself, there is just a bit of an edge to the acidity. That isn't noticeable when enjoying it with a meal. The finish lingers on and on. This is classic Hermitage very close to the top of its game (the acidity maybe says it's a tiny bit past peak, but I'm not complaining).
Triple Curly with a Woo Woo!
-Paul W.
You're a patient man, having held onto the '85 as long as you did. I drank up the '88 a while ago, but a bottle recently sampled at an offline reminded me of just how damn good that wine is. Pity that it costs so much these days...