WTN: 1990 Crozes-Hermitage, A. Graillot

I stumbled upon this bottle when I looked for some other bottles in my currently less than well organized cellar and decided that it would be a great match to the grilled lamb chops we had for dinner today, and indeed it was a lovely match and, furthermore, a wonderful wine.

Medium deep colour. Surprisingly red, only slightly bricking at the broad rim.
The nose is at first a bit dull and meaty, but soon the very typical Graillot aromatic nose evolves. It is very fresh and spicy, distinctly floral in a most typical way. The flower I associate this smell the most with is Garden Phlox (Phlox paniculata). If you know its fresh and spicy scent, you know what I mean, if not, go out and find one and stick your nose in it...
The palate is very fresh and spicy. A juicy and most refreshing taste with the aromatic and spicy character from the nose growing and almost becoming overpowering towards the end. Mmmm, I really love this wine. It is so fresh and so typical of Graillot at his best.

I'm glad I still have (at least) one bottle left of this wine in the cellar.

Cheers, Anders

The flower I associate this smell the most with is Garden Phlox (Phlox paniculata). If you know its fresh and spicy scent, you know what I mean, if not, go out and find one and stick your nose in it...

Thanks for note. I've never had a Crozes at 18 except the Thalabert. Glad to know Graillot can be that fresh with age. I have one '95 Crozes and a '95 La Guiraude Crozes, one of the regulars didn't show so well last year, but it could cork or storage (didn't buy at release).

Anders,

Thanks for the note. I regard the 1990 Graillot Guirade and the Thalabert from Jaboulet from the same year as the two best Crozes-Hermitage rouge' I've ever tried. Both wines I've rated as high as 93, but unfortunately my stash of both disappeared some years ago.

Thanks for the note. I've purchased a few cases of the '04s and '05's and have been wondering at the longevity of these wines....then again, they are so tasty young that they may not last that long....

Thanks for the note. I've purchased a few cases of the '04s and '05's and have been wondering at the longevity of these wines....then again, they are so tasty young that they may not last that long...

Sadly, YES!

Lucky you, Anders. I attended a vertical of Graillot two or three years ago going back to when he started in the mid-80s or so. Unfortunately I cannot find my notes, maybe in the Netscape black hole, but I remember the wines as being remarkably consistent and even the early ones showing little signs of age. These wine are not afraid of 15/20 years but can be delicious young, at least the regular bottling, Guiraude being a bit tougher.

WOW, I have never seen before a TN from such an old Graillot wine. I am a big fan of Graillot since many, many years and 4 weeks ago I had a 2001 Crozes-Hermitage, very fine.

Vielen Dank Anders,
Martin