Ah, I very much enjoyed the 2021 Alain Graillot Hermitage, but I can’t quite say it was a magical bottle….it took me on a flavor journey, just not an emotional one, which is my prerequisite for magic. While, it was not quite a magical bottle, it did have one close to magic glass.
Even better I feel really good today, and that’s the great thing about a 13% ABV bottle featuring elegance and purity. Usually I wait a few days before writing these reviews, but if I feel good the next day, then the review must go on. As you will see, this is a review featuring flavors and aromas, not emotion and excitement, so this wasn’t quite a magical bottle.
I loved the way it started, the cured meats, black pepper, black and blue fruits really stood out. Each tasting note was very distinct, showcasing everything we love about the Northern Rhones. The first glass was fantastic, and just based on the symphony of notes, it was a magic glass. Now that’s way different from a magic bottle because magic glasses don’t produce emotions or journeys, but they sure do produce great flavors and mouthfeel.
The rest of the bottle was very good, but I wish it had stayed like the first glass. Everything came together and integrated nicely as I went through the bottle, but I liked it better when every note was clear. No emotions or memories came up, and the wine didn’t take me anywhere, it was just a very good, enjoyable bottle.
I really love Bordeaux. Almost every wine there is a blend of several different varietals, and it’s fantastic when they all come together and merge as you go through the bottle.
Hermitage, however, is only Syrah, with no other red wines, so although it evolved, I felt like it fell in on itself, and became a bit muted. All the distinct notes merged into one, which works better for Bordeaux blends than a single varietal Hermitage.
All in all, it was a delicious bottle and a great introduction to the region. This would be a great bottle to bring to a wine party with 4 or 5 people who love wine, and each person brings one from a different region so you can really get a feel for the differences in the wine. It’d also be a great one to take to a “Cellar Salon,” where you’d drink about one glass, while trying many other wines.
If you like the wine- and I very much did- then you’ll want to go UP in quality and try:
2015 Domaine de la Chapelle Hermitage La Chapelle- $315
2015 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage- $600
2000 Domaine Jean Louis Chave Hermitage Ermitage Cathelin- $8,700
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