Singed mesquite, tea and incense notes lead the way, backed by a solid core of ripe plum paste and black currant pate de fruit flavors. The tightly focused finish offers ample toast, but this has more than enough fruit, along with a mouthwatering tobacco detail at the very end. Best from 2024 through 2036. 5,800 cases made, 250 cases imported.

Bright purple. A complex, expansive bouquet evokes ripe dark berries, vanilla and floral pastilles, along with suggestions of licorice, woodsmoke and olive paste. Broad and fleshy on the palate, offering sweet black and blue fruit, cola and spicecake flavors supported by a spine of juicy acidity. Rich yet energetic in style, finishing smooth and very long, with slow-building tannins and lingering spiciness.

An absolutely terrific value, the 2015 Crozes Hermitage Grand Classique is like a mini-Hermitage this year, boasting hints of crushed stone, pencil shavings and rich, concentrated, plummy fruit. It's firm and long, with licorice notes on the finish.

Leading off the Hermitage releases, the 2015 Hermitage Grand Classique is an outstanding effort, revealing lots of minerality, smoked black fruits and leather aromas and flavors. Showing loads of granite character, it's medium to full-bodied, nicely concentrated, and has fine tannin. It can be drunk now, but will be at its best from 2020-2030.