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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Prices:
| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
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Rhone | 2 | 94 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£523.24 |
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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. |
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Rhone | 1 | 98 (DC) |
Inc. VAT
£1,303.24 |
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Decanter (98)I think it's the best vintage I've ever made', says Marc, and you can see why. It's 100% whole-bunch fruit, harvested at a yield of 25hl/ha from lieux-dits Les Greffieux and Le Méal. It has resinous rosemary notes on the nose, and it's so fresh, vibrant and full of energy. The palate is beautifully concentrated, with lovely berry acidity. It's a totally natural and unforced expression of Hermitage with real length and persistence. It has slightly softer tannins than the 2015, but is just as good. So refreshing and enlivening. |
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Rhone | 1 | 5 (JLL) |
Inc. VAT
£961.24 |
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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 2018 |
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Rhone | 1 | 100 (JD) |
Inc. VAT
£1,175.09 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (100)An absolute blockbuster of an Hermitage that tastes like the blood of Syrah, the 2019 Hermitage Le Greal sports a saturated purple hue to go with insane aromatics of pen ink, smoked meats, burning embers, currants, and ground pepper. Massively concentrated, full-bodied, structured, and yet also flawlessly balanced, this legendary Hermitage is going to need a decade or more to get close to maturity, and I suspect it will have 40-50 years of overall longevity. I wouldn't be surprised if the 1961 Jaboulet Hermitage La Chapelle tasted similar to this on release. |
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Rhone | 1 | 99 (JD) |
Inc. VAT
£1,193.09 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (99)Even better, the 2020 Hermitage Le Gréal showed brilliantly, and this powerful, concentrated Hermitage is going to be one for the cellar. Revealing a dense purple hue as well as great aromatics of blackberries, new saddle leather, truffle, roasted herbs, and peppered meat, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a layered, mouth-filling texture, building tannins, and a great finish. It's going to take a decade to hit maturity, but this brilliant Hermitage will have 30 years of longevity. Bravo! |
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Rhone | 1 | 96 (DC) |
Inc. VAT
£1,295.09 |
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Decanter (96)A particularly fruity Gréal, much more open than usual at this stage. It has weight and presence and a seriously mineral edge. Less concentration and structure than a typical year, but it should last well thanks to its energy, tension and strict tannins, and end up very Pinotesque in style with age. It’s pure and elegant and with good ripeness of fruit and tannin. Impressive, but don't expect a huge wine. Very true to Bessards, like sucking pencil lead. Vines partly grown on Le Méal, partly on Les Greffieux, and 10% whole bunch used. |
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| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Rhone | 2 | 94 (VN) |
In Bond
£420.00 |
|||||
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. |
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|
|
Rhone | 1 | 98 (DC) |
In Bond
£1,070.00 |
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Decanter (98)I think it's the best vintage I've ever made', says Marc, and you can see why. It's 100% whole-bunch fruit, harvested at a yield of 25hl/ha from lieux-dits Les Greffieux and Le Méal. It has resinous rosemary notes on the nose, and it's so fresh, vibrant and full of energy. The palate is beautifully concentrated, with lovely berry acidity. It's a totally natural and unforced expression of Hermitage with real length and persistence. It has slightly softer tannins than the 2015, but is just as good. So refreshing and enlivening. |
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|
|
Rhone | 1 | 5 (JLL) |
In Bond
£785.00 |
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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 2018 |
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Rhone | 1 | 100 (JD) |
In Bond
£960.00 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (100)An absolute blockbuster of an Hermitage that tastes like the blood of Syrah, the 2019 Hermitage Le Greal sports a saturated purple hue to go with insane aromatics of pen ink, smoked meats, burning embers, currants, and ground pepper. Massively concentrated, full-bodied, structured, and yet also flawlessly balanced, this legendary Hermitage is going to need a decade or more to get close to maturity, and I suspect it will have 40-50 years of overall longevity. I wouldn't be surprised if the 1961 Jaboulet Hermitage La Chapelle tasted similar to this on release. |
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|
|
Rhone | 1 | 99 (JD) |
In Bond
£975.00 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (99)Even better, the 2020 Hermitage Le Gréal showed brilliantly, and this powerful, concentrated Hermitage is going to be one for the cellar. Revealing a dense purple hue as well as great aromatics of blackberries, new saddle leather, truffle, roasted herbs, and peppered meat, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a layered, mouth-filling texture, building tannins, and a great finish. It's going to take a decade to hit maturity, but this brilliant Hermitage will have 30 years of longevity. Bravo! |
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|
|
Rhone | 1 | 96 (DC) |
In Bond
£1,060.00 |
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Decanter (96)A particularly fruity Gréal, much more open than usual at this stage. It has weight and presence and a seriously mineral edge. Less concentration and structure than a typical year, but it should last well thanks to its energy, tension and strict tannins, and end up very Pinotesque in style with age. It’s pure and elegant and with good ripeness of fruit and tannin. Impressive, but don't expect a huge wine. Very true to Bessards, like sucking pencil lead. Vines partly grown on Le Méal, partly on Les Greffieux, and 10% whole bunch used. |
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