Domaine du Colombier 2017 Hermitage Rouge 750ml

Brought up in 30% new demi-muids, with the balance in used barrels, the 2017 Hermitage is beautifully pure and layered, with smoking good notes of crème de cassis, white flowers, crushed rocks, and violets. Deep, full-bodied, and concentrated on the palate, it has plenty of tannins and is going to need 5-7 years of bottle age. This is a sensational Hermitage from Colombier that will drink well for 25+ years.

Score: 96+ points -- Jeb Dunnock, juebdunnock.com, 2019

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Brothers Florent and David of the Domaine du Colombier produce some of the most respected wines from the Crozes Hermitage appellation, as well as from Hermitage itself, where they own 1.5 hectares of vineyard in the Beaumes lieu-dit. Grape growers before they were winemakers, the family used to sell grapes to large players in the region like Guigal, but have been bottling their own product since 1992. True to their fruit farming heritage, the Viales continue to farm apricots as well as grapes.