Hermitage, 2017
Smouldering, smoky but very open-knit dark berry flavours. Compact and intense but with good length and expression. Robust in structure, this and the mouthwatering sapidity lift the creme de mure, black cherry and kirsch notes on the haunting finish. An absolute triumph. Florent’s first experiment with whole bunch fermentation – 50% of the grapes were destalked for this. Well worth trialling again on the basis of this! A blend of three Hermitage parcels, vinified in steel tank, lightly extracted and then aged in 30% new oak large demi muid barrels.
critic reviews
Deep, brilliant violet. Powerful, mineral- and smoke-tinged black and blue fruits, potpourri and incense aromas pick up a spicy nuance as the wine opens up. Densely packed cherry, cassis and blueberry flavors show excellent clarity and building energy. Finishes impressively long and spicy, with youthfully gripping tannins and a suave, lingering candied violet quality. This is a rare bottling, from a single barrique, that is available at a single retailer in France.
Colombier's 2017 Hermitage starts off a bit lifted and minty on the nose, but those elements are balanced by the wine's huge fruit. Waves of concentrated cherry and raspberry flavors wash over the full-bodied palate, pummeled into shape by equally big tannins. This is promising, but it deserves a few more years of cellaring.