My notes show the 2021 Sans Soufre completely blew my socks off (so texturally unique super fine grained tannins, much tighter than the '22) and the 2022 was really good but a very different wine (more fruit, more open, round, softer tannins), at least in my experience.
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I drank my 2019 SS over the holidays last year and it was still going strong. Storage is key, but my take is these can age 4-7 years.
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I had the 21 about two months ago and it showed very young. It was my lone bottle but I would love to try the 21 with another 4-5 years on it.
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Agreed. I wish I had another 21, and also wish I didn’t “accidentally” open one of the whites I thought was a red. I opened two 22 Sans soufre but I felt they were much more approachable young wines.
Drank the 2020 version of this wine last Saturday night. Here’s my note:
Essentially a pop and pour, although I did give it permission to laze in the glass for about 20 minutes. This Sans Soufre bottling (all of the vintages) from Kobayashi has been receiving oodles of praise lately and I most certainly don’t want to feel left out. Dark ass purple out of the bottle with initial aromas of perfectly ripe blackberries, olives, iron, and bacon fat. For someone who loves northern Rhone Syrah, the nose on this wine possesses all of the qualities your pretty little heart desires and then some. An expression of absolute pure clean fruit on the palate followed by some sneaky tannins that give a nice Gary Payton styled assist for balance. Special wine that one should only seek out after I purchase mine. 95pts.
Also, drank the 2022 Marsanne/Roussanne the previous weekend. Note for that wine:
Popped and poured then let sit on the glass for an hour. First and foremost, give this wine at least an hour of air and make sure it’s not too cold. I, of course, being the impatient sucker I am tried to immediately drink this puppy and had to back off for an hour to let it open up and warm. Once the wine was allowed to strut its stuff, it blossomed into one of the best domestic white Rhones I’ve had. Showing perfectly layered and ripe fruit but more importantly none of the cloying sweetness you can get from Marsanne/Roussanne. Tons of stuffing which means it will last 10-15 years but it’s so good now, why wait? 94 pts.
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Wags, thanks for sharing this Saturday not mention the insane taco bar!!! Your note is spot on, as for my own contribution, I think three words say it best and I do quote the recall code from Dr. Strangelove: POE Purity Of Essence…lovely Syrah.