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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Vinous (94)
Glass-staining ruby. Hypnotic, explosive bouquet of black and blue fruits, cola, anise, violet and minerals. Weighty but almost shockingly lithe, with precise mulberry and boysenberry flavors and strong mineral and candied floral character. Becomes even sweeter on the finish, leaving strong floral and blue fruit notes in its wake.$1,170.00 -
Wine Advocate (95)
A stunning, potentially profound effort, the 2009 Hermitage Le Greal (14.6% natural alcohol) is a 30 to 35-year wine. Terrific aromas of charcoal, roasted meats, blackberries, boysenberries, licorice and graphite jump from the glass of this full-bodied, unctuously textured, thick, concentrated wine. Give it 5-7 years of cellaring and enjoy it over the following three decades.$201.00 -
Wine Advocate (95)
A stunning, potentially profound effort, the 2009 Hermitage Le Greal (14.6% natural alcohol) is a 30 to 35-year wine. Terrific aromas of charcoal, roasted meats, blackberries, boysenberries, licorice and graphite jump from the glass of this full-bodied, unctuously textured, thick, concentrated wine. Give it 5-7 years of cellaring and enjoy it over the following three decades.$1,800.00 -
The Wine Cellar Insider (95)
Just a super wine, inky, dark in color, the wine meshes a mountain of tannin with a wave of earthy, stony, crisp, ripe, juicy fruit. Here, the tannins are ripe, but they strong, so you need to wait on this baby for at least 8-10 years.$289.00 -
$177.00
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(1x75cl) 2015The Wine Cellar Insider (98)
Wow, this is inky in color, with just as much depth in flavor to match. The nose shows crushed rocks, smoke and dark, black fruits. On the palate, the wine is incredibly full-bodied, rich and intense, with a hint of saltiness to the tannins. Even with all this power, the wine is balanced, fresh and refined. The best since 2003, and it is probably even better. It will age for decades effortlessly.$198.00 -
(1x75cl) 2017Decanter (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.$188.00 -
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.$1,050.00 -
(1x75cl) 2018John 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$177.00 -
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$941.00 -
(1x75cl) 2019Jeb 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.$177.00 -
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.$929.00 -
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!$222.00 -
(6x150cl) 2020Jeb 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!$2,995.00 -
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!$1,205.00 -
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.$261.00 -
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.$1,385.00 -
(1x75cl) 2022Wine Advocate (97)
A strong candidate for the title of the wine of the vintage, the 2022 Hermitage Le Greal is gorgeous. Evoking a perfumed, complex and vibrant bouquet of blackberry, rose petal, violet, flowers and dark cherries mingled with lovely notes of lead pencil, it's suave and sappy, complete and deep, with a multidimensional core of fruit and beautifully refined tannins enhanced by an energetic mid-palate that segues into a long, perfumed and ethereal finish due to the use of whole bunches. Truly gorgeous. It should gain raciness with age.$248.00 -
(6x150cl) 2022Wine Advocate (97)
A strong candidate for the title of the wine of the vintage, the 2022 Hermitage Le Greal is gorgeous. Evoking a perfumed, complex and vibrant bouquet of blackberry, rose petal, violet, flowers and dark cherries mingled with lovely notes of lead pencil, it's suave and sappy, complete and deep, with a multidimensional core of fruit and beautifully refined tannins enhanced by an energetic mid-palate that segues into a long, perfumed and ethereal finish due to the use of whole bunches. Truly gorgeous. It should gain raciness with age.$2,920.00 -
Wine Advocate (97)
A strong candidate for the title of the wine of the vintage, the 2022 Hermitage Le Greal is gorgeous. Evoking a perfumed, complex and vibrant bouquet of blackberry, rose petal, violet, flowers and dark cherries mingled with lovely notes of lead pencil, it's suave and sappy, complete and deep, with a multidimensional core of fruit and beautifully refined tannins enhanced by an energetic mid-palate that segues into a long, perfumed and ethereal finish due to the use of whole bunches. Truly gorgeous. It should gain raciness with age.$1,410.00 -
(1x75cl) 2023
Wine Advocate (100)
The 2023 Hermitage Le Gréal is exquisite, wafting from the glass with an exotic bouquet of wisteria, violet, cassis, mulberries and pepper. Full-bodied, velvety and enveloping, it’s built around a fleshy, even unctuous core of fruit underpinned by a delicate chassis of sweet, powdery and perfectly integrated tannins, concluding with a long, ethereal, violet-inflected finish. One of the most precise and seamless renditions of Le Gréal in recent years, it remains harmonious and finely balanced, representing the essence of this remarkable address.$248.00
