Compelling fragrance despite its youth, remarkably fruity and open for a L’Ermite wine at this stage: lavender, orange, mint and fresh blackberry. Medium to full bodied, rich and mouth-coating yet sublimely fresh. Sprightly, saline tannins, super-fine but weighty. Very well balanced, with juicy acidity and hugely long. Serious thrust and soaring energy, this is white-knuckle stuff. This was made from 70-year-old Syrah vines planted on a high bank of decomposed granite and granitic sands, lieu-dit L’Ermite. Yields of 22 hl/ha. Completely destemmed, fermented in concrete; all matured for 18 months in large wooden tank, 25% of which is new oak. Drinking window 2025-2060

The 2017 Ermitage l'Ermite is equally astounding but a completely different expression of Hermitage. Somehow this combines the reservedness of le Pavillon with the generosity of le Méal, resulting in a wine that I can only describe as perfect. The pristine cassis fruit is remarkably pure, joined by complex notes of crushed stone, salted licorice and the slightest hints of fine-grained oak. It's full-bodied, concentrated and velvety in texture, with oodles of chewy but ripe tannins and a finish that goes on for minutes.

The 490-case 2017 Ermitage L’Ermite comes from a mix of granite and limestone soils and was brought up all in demi-muids. It offers a fresh, focused, chiseled style that has awesome minerality as well as crème de cassis, graphite, crushed violets, burning embers, and bacon fat that develops beautifully with air. With a huge, layered mid-palate, brilliant concentrated, ultra-fine tannins, and a finish that won't quit, it’s unquestionably one of the most impressive wines in the vintage.

Ripe and dense, yet racy and defined in feel, with a stream of cherry, blackberry and cassis notes underscored by singed alder and iron accents. Lovely floral details run throughout before coalescing on the finish. Best from 2023 through 2038.

This is a showy parcel that has delivered such attractive, ripe and concentrated dark cherries and plums in 2017 with abundant dark spices, pepper, grilled meat and flowers. Very plush, silky and open tannins carry a wealth of flavor. Long and regal with so much ripe dark berries and cherries on offer. Drink or hold.