M. Chapoutier Ermitage "Les Greffieux" 2016

Chapoutier's 2016 Ermitage les Greffieux is a perfumed, elegant expression of this historic terroir. Violet and crushed stone notes perfectly complement the cedar and baking spices of new oak in framing ripe blackberries and blueberries. Full-bodied, rich and concentrated yet silky in feel, it adds savory notes of black olive and licorice on the long, mouthwatering finish.

Wild, exotic fruit, pepper and spice here. This is really wild. Blood-orange, herb and dark, spicy notes run riot amid dark, ripe, blood plums and punchy, fresh oak. The palate delivers a big serving of rich, dark plums and berries with fleshy impact and a powerful, tannin structure. From organically grown grapes. Barrel sample.

From the deeper soils at the bottom of the Le Méal lieu-dit, the 2016 Ermitage Les Gréffieux was all destemmed and saw its normal 18 months in a mix of Burgundy barrels and demi-muids, with just 25% being new. This is a rich, powerful, black-fruited expression of this cuvée, offering up tons of blackcurrants, blackberries, smoked earth, chocolate, and spice. Inky colored, full-bodied, sensationally concentrated, and opulent on the palate, it's a killer bottle of wine that can be drunk today or cellared for 25 years or more.