Domaine Marc Sorrel Hermitage "Les Rocoules" dry white 2018 (3 bottles)

PRESENTATION OF THE DOMAINE SORREL
+ ALL ITS OTHER WINES IN STOCK

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Domaine Marc Sorrel Hermitage Les Rocoules 2018 dry white wine

La Revue du Vin de France (Nov. 2021): Yellow flowers and honey notes are intense on the nose, complemented by touches of medlar, wax, and incense, with immense mineral depth. The palate masters its power thanks to incredible tension.

Guide RVF des Meilleurs Vins de France 2021 (Nov. 2020): favorite, 97/100. The whites display incredible elegance and depth. Les Rocoules is a great wine to age, as powerful as it is firm, with superb persistence.

Guide Bettane + Desseauve 2021 (Dec. 2020): 19.5/20. The most golden hue among the whites from the domaine. Powerful, very ripe fruitiness, indulgent with notes of dragée, frangipane, and Indian spices. Creamy palate that almost gives an impression of sweetness due to the ripe fruit. A monument that unfortunately few will have the chance to taste (only 5 barrels produced, compared to the usual 7 barrels).

La Revue du Vin de France (The Great Bottles of the Rhône Valley No. 645, Oct. 2020): 97/100. Yellow flowers and honey notes are intense on the nose, complemented by touches of medlar, wax, and incense, with immense mineral depth. The palate masters its power thanks to incredible mineral tension. A profound Hermitage.

Parker's Wine Advocate (Joe Czerwinski, Dec. 2019): 96-98/100. A blend of 90% Marsanne and 10% Roussanne, Sorrel's 2018 Hermitage Blanc Les Rocoules is a huge, honeyed, rich effort that should still be drinking well in 25 years. It's difficult to see the structure under all of the lush melon and pineapple fruit, but it's there, emerging on the finish to show incredible length and freshness. It's a true legend in the making. Drink date 2020-2045.

Marc Sorrel officially retired at the end of 2018. His son, Guillaume, has taken over. He led me through an extensive barrel tasting in the domaine's small cellars located near the Mairie and bridge to Tournon. Parking is never easy here, but it's worth the walk if you can't find a spot, as the wines from 2017 and 2018 are stunning, fitting testaments to Marc's final vintages. According to Guillaume, they're two years that resemble each other, although he finds more freshness in 2018 and more tannin in 2017. Much of his time will be spent in the vineyards, where he said a big number of vines needed to be replaced. In the cellar, he's using a bit more sulfur to keep the wines fresher during their two years of elevage, and he's no longer going to bottle barrel by barrel, which should help improve the consistency of the wines in the market. At the risk of repeating myself, don't miss the 2017s and 2018s here — especially the Les Rocoules and Le Greal.

Technical sheet written by the domaine:

Cuvée from the lieu-dit "Les Roucoules", one of the most prestigious in the appellation.

Grapes: Marsanne 95% and Roussanne 5%; vines aged 50 years.

Fermentation: in barrels for eight to ten weeks, partial aging on fine lees, no filtration.

Tasting: it is a rich and creamy nectar, both dry and smooth, with great purity of flavor. Stunning finish of vine peach, vanilla, and honey.