Her Mir Tage

9.6

The Legendary 1990 and 2005 Vintages, and the 'Rouge' Aroma They Revealed!

I was meeting friends for a tasting, and I said I would bring a wine with a "rouge aroma" (*Yānzhī xiāng*). My friend also promised to open one with the same scent. If it's a cool vintage, a DRC might not reveal that distinctive rouge scent, but it's more common in warmer vintages, especially older ones from hot years. Of course, 2005 is a legendary vintage—it was warm but with significant diurnal temperature variation, resulting in balanced acidity and concentration, which also creates a very strong structure.

Thankfully, the 1990 Clos de Tart, despite having a very low fill level, wasn't spoiled. Its condition wasn't as potent as a previous bottle I had opened. This one took about 1.5 hours to fully open up in the glass. When it did, it revealed that signature Jiangnan "rouge" scent—very soft, enchanting, and feminine—along with some notes of dried longan. The fruit was balanced, though the acidity was relatively weak.

Today, I'll mainly write about this DRC. Its structure is incredibly powerful. For the first two hours, it was very closed. I believe this wine needed at least four hours of decanting, primarily because the 2005s, despite being a warm year, aren't that easy to open up. The aromas only started to slowly emerge around the third hour, and we were using large decanters and glasses, waiting for a long time. Initially, for the first half-hour after opening, there was a reductive note that was a bit funky. Later, after it opened up, the nose was primarily an interplay of cypress pine, violets, and that rouge scent intertwined. Honestly, this wine felt androgynous to me—it evokes an image of a knight and a princess playing in a forest. It wasn't overly soft, and its layers were incredibly complex.

On the palate, it was abundant: primarily black fruit, sour plum, sandalwood, coffee beans, a hint of dark chocolate, and a touch of earthy notes. The tannins weren't very soft—but then again, I'm so accustomed to drinking old wines. I feel this wine will need another 10 years to truly reach its peak. Its structure is exceptionally strong, unfolding layer by layer, with beautifully balanced acidity.

Comparing these two wines, their styles are completely different. One could say it's a contrast between an iconic Eastern beauty and a Western princess. I personally adore the soft and elegant style, but the 2005 is a wine with immense structure—it possesses a feminine power that is very potent, almost like the vision of a woman holding authority in a man's world.

Drinking such magnificent wines brings me great joy! — 4 days ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

Always impresses with its dujac character showing dark cherry, berry fruit, crushed rock, spice & violet — 10 hours ago

Conrad Green

9.3

Soft plum and violets. Quite resolved and pretty. Plush. Yummy. — 17 days ago

Ron Siegel

9.4

Another beauty that is fresh, intense with its steely, mineral, saline, lemon & orchid fruits. — a month ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple of hours. The 2017 (S) pours a garnet color with a translucent core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and signs of fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with pretty notes of mostly red, tart fruit: strawberry, raspberry, Montmorency cherry, licorice, dried green herbs, menthol, and rocky earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and just a touch mousy but within the acceptable range. Refreshing and a lovely pairing with burgers on a warm Spring evening. Drink now through 2032. — 2 months ago

Eric Vishria

9.7

I mean, this is insane. Needed air. Soft tannins, wonderfully earthy. — 2 months ago

Her Mir Tage

9.0

Domaine Armand Rousseau Père & Fils Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru 2012

For my first time tasting Domaine Armand Rousseau Père & Fils Chambertin-Clos de Bèze, the sommelier said that if Chambertin is the King, then this wine, Clos de Bèze, is the Queen. The 2012 vintage is relatively easy to approach and didn't require a very long decanting time—two hours was sufficient.

The 2012 growing season was quite challenging, with a severe cold spring, but the summer was warm and hot. As a result, the fruit profile of this wine is quite expressive.

For the first hour, the reduction notes were very strong. It only started to open up in the second hour. The aroma is quite elegant. Since we were dining at a restaurant, the sommelier was very meticulous in controlling the temperature of the glassware, adjusting the wine's condition to a optimal state.

I didn't get very exuberant fruit notes. The overall state of the wine was restrained and elegant—like a lady around 30 years old. Not only is her beauty present, but there's also a feeling of poise and steadiness. Everything was in balance: the aromas, flavours, and acidity.

Notes of cherry, blackberry, liquorice sweetness, a hint of mint, and some dried flowers. There was a slightly creamy texture on the palate. The body was rounded but not quite what I would call voluptuous.

I didn't find any particularly stunning or breathtaking flavours or aromas. I can only say that this wine's performance was... correct. I had originally hoped for more complex layers, but unfortunately, I felt its expression was relatively simple, not very complex. It was just quite elegant and graceful.

This wine is exceedingly expensive. For a similar quality presentation, I believe there are other options at perhaps half the price that could deliver a comparable experience. — 3 days ago

Pinotman /// Andreas

9.5

At 20 years top wines needs to be in a good place. Not a fan of 20+ aging - for reds. AND? Excellent cork. Some oxidation. Brown tinge. Plenty of tannins left - give it 10 min at least!!! Tobacco, plums, peaches? Rust. Touch orange juice. Hint oregano. Really coats your mouth. Incredibly mellowed out. Plenty of acid. COMPLEX. A little rustic - not elegant but bold and big. This is what Pommard should be classic. World class for Pommard. To keep this longer would be nuts - drink up! What a wine! — 22 days ago

Jol

9.1

Très valable — 10 days ago

Andrew Schirmer

9.6

Young, but drinking so well right now. Incredible concentration & depth. Stunning. — a month ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

Beautiful vintage! Consistent with my prior notes — a month ago

Mike Evans

9.2

A little darker cherry than the 1971, a little weightier,,and showing a little more fruit, pretty good but lacking the ethereal quality of the 1971. It also fell apart faster than I’d like. — 2 months ago

Timothy Eustis

Wine Director, Red Lion Inn

9.0

Pls. 2010. Thank you Dan. Prob past its prime. But still a solid backbone of extremely well made wine from a great house. — 2 days ago

Alvaro Bustillos

9.0

Taba aencorchadoo — 4 days ago

JKT

9.1

This one, on the other hand, did smack me in the face with a surprising streak of lean almost metallic minerals cutting through. — a month ago

KCG

9.4

Late summer dinner. Valmur 2019 - yes or no? — 21 days ago

Alvaro Bustillos

9.3

Sergio nevarez — 14 days ago

Wally Jackpot

9.8

Brilliant spectacular delicious — a month ago

Conrad Green

9.5

Not poxed! Hints of age. Corn and lemon oil, oyster shells. Intense and balanced. Great — a month ago

with Steve

Garen Staglin

9.6

Amazing.Great acidity and minerality. — 2 months ago