| Score: |
97 JD.
"The 2015 Hermitage comes from the Les Doignières and Les Beaumes lieux-dits which are more clay and limestone soils. It's another sensational Hermitage from this magical hillside that I wish every reader could taste. Cassis, damp earth, liquid violets and a liqueur of rocks-like profile emerge from this full-bodied, concentrated and powerful Hermitage, which has no shortage of extract or tannin. It's for consumers with cold cellars and plenty of patience as it's going to require at least 4-5 years of cellaring. This was another terrific lineup of wine from owner/winemaker Florent Vale. Pulling from roughly 13 hectares in Crozes-Hermitage (mostly around the villages of Mercurol and Tain) and just under two hectares in Hermitage, Laurent’s wines see a traditional vinification followed by aging mostly in older demi-muids, with new oak kept to around 20% for most of the cuvées. These are classic, textbook examples of their appellations and the 2015s are beautiful across the board." Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com, Jan 2018 |