Published by Jeremy.
Disclaimers: This review uses WSET Diploma terminology and our own rating scale. Read more here. We use demographic data, email opt-ins, display advertising, and affiliate links to operate this site. Please review our Terms and Conditions for more information. This website is intended for those of legal drinking age in your jurisdiction.
We always love a good Hermitage, as we're suckers for all Rhone Syrah every chance we can get.
But it is rare that we find an older bottle available at a reasonable price, and we got just that with Cave de Tain Nobles Rives Hermitage 2011. 13 years of age at a reasonable price? We're in!
A Delicious Aged Rhone Syrah
This aged Hermitage was medium garnet in color with medium(+) aromas of black cherry, cedar, sandalwood, cranberry, cassis, violet, rose, caramel, clove, blackberry, tobacco, leather, forest floor, wet leaves, and balsamic vinegar.
On the palate, it was dry with high acidity, medium body and alcohol, medium(+) flavor intensity, and a long finish. We had notes of dried red cherry, blueberry, cranberry, violet, leather, clove, cedar, blackberry, rose, black pepper, cacao, tobacco, dried fig, and balsamic vinegar.
This one had a lot going on, and while the balsamic notes gave the wine a bit of an acidic bite to it that some may find less appealing, we really liked how this one still had some fresh fruit to balance the tertiary characteristics like tobacco, dried fruits, etc. The bonus floral components were also quite enjoyable without being overpowering.
Hermitage Food Pairing – Sous Vide Steak and Truffle Mashed Potatoes
We paired this rich red wine form the northern Rhone with a sous vide steak and truffle infused mashed potatoes.
The fatty steak (a rib steak- our favorite cut) helped bring about more fresh dark fruit notes like blueberry and lessened some of the tertiary characteristics like tobacco and balsamic vinegar. The mashed potatoes with truffle actually had a greater impact on the wine with a spike in notes of cinnamon, cacao, and dried fruit which we quite enjoyed.
Score: 4 / 5
We'd buy another bottle of this one.
One of the things we really liked about this bottle was that we found it in a store at 13 years of age just on the shelf. We have a fondness for this particular wine due to its age, and if we could ever get one with a similar age indication (perhaps a year or two younger, even), we'd gladly buy it without thinking twice.
Cave de Tain is located at 22 Route de Larnage 26600 Tain L'Hermitage in France. We purchased this bottle locally and enjoyed it in 2024.
Upgrade Your Home Wine Bar
Need to upgrade your wine bar? Grab some new wine accessories:
