Marc Sorrel
About Marc Sorrel
The Sorrel family boasts one of the longest lineages of vinous involvement in the Rhône Valley, having began to plant vines in the Northern region around the turn of the 20th century. The indomitable Marc Sorrel, for whom the estate is still named despite retiring in 2018, learnt his signature style of winemaking predominantly from his father Henri, making this a true family affair spanning multiple generations.
Responsible for many legendary bottlings of Hermitage across the decades, Le Gréal is the flagship rouge from the Domaine being sourced from the famous Lieux-Dits of Le Méal and Les Greffieux. The vast majority of Sorrel’s vines are planted in the middle slope of Le Méal which has a tiny microclimate a touch warmer than other parts of the vineyard. Composed of significant deposits of limestone and granite, these wines possess transcendent minerality alongside powerfully ripe fruit.
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Vinous (94)
Saturated ruby. Expressive blackberry and cherry compote scents are complemented by hints of exotic spices, smoked meat and olive. Round and fleshy but energetic as well, offering intense black and blue fruit and spicecake flavors that are underscored by a core of juicy acidity. A smoky bacon note lingers on the youthfully tannic finish, which shows strong, spice- and mineral-driven persistence.Inc. TAX€611.58 -
John Livingston-Learmouth (5)
(used 228-litre cask, 17 casks this year, not had so many since 1999) deep robe. There is a bull’s blood intensity on the nose, concerted black fruits, black olives – it is sleek and profound, a real Child of the Night, is slinky, with most welcoming fruit beckoning you in. The palate engages with a wavy black fruit offer; the pleasure is sensaround, and there is naughty raciness in its svelte fruit. I find it has more hidden depths than 2017, is wholesome, and very, very persistent, flourishes on the close. It has subtleties, perhaps more than 2017, carries some Burgundian tendencies, most sexy fruit, silky and savoury, very long and sensuous. 14.1°. 2053-56 Nov 2018Inc. TAX€1,123.98
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Vinous (94)
Saturated ruby. Expressive blackberry and cherry compote scents are complemented by hints of exotic spices, smoked meat and olive. Round and fleshy but energetic as well, offering intense black and blue fruit and spicecake flavors that are underscored by a core of juicy acidity. A smoky bacon note lingers on the youthfully tannic finish, which shows strong, spice- and mineral-driven persistence.In Bond€491.00 -
John Livingston-Learmouth (5)
(used 228-litre cask, 17 casks this year, not had so many since 1999) deep robe. There is a bull’s blood intensity on the nose, concerted black fruits, black olives – it is sleek and profound, a real Child of the Night, is slinky, with most welcoming fruit beckoning you in. The palate engages with a wavy black fruit offer; the pleasure is sensaround, and there is naughty raciness in its svelte fruit. I find it has more hidden depths than 2017, is wholesome, and very, very persistent, flourishes on the close. It has subtleties, perhaps more than 2017, carries some Burgundian tendencies, most sexy fruit, silky and savoury, very long and sensuous. 14.1°. 2053-56 Nov 2018In Bond€918.00