Hermitage, 2016

Incredibly pure cherry fruit, lively and crisp, notes of violet, herb and cocoa built on solid but not overwhelming tannic foundations and encircled by enlivening but not austere freshness. Powerful, bright and with bags of character. Every year we taste a few of Bernard's blends including his two best vineyards, on paper at least, the Meal and Bessard. But it is this one, Meal Bessard and Greffieux that consistently comes out on top and the one which we always end up shipping. Made the traditional way, whole bunch fermentation, gentle extraction and aged in used demi muid casks.