Opaque dark ruby. Incredibly rich, deep and pungent on the nose, offering an outsized bouquet of kirsch, blackberry, cassis and musky cured tobacco. I commented that this smelled like a great port and Guigal, who clearly adores this wine, said "Well, 1945 Taylor is a wine I'd walk miles for." Powerful, deeply concentrated and sweet, with explosive cherry, plum and dark berry flavors, notes of bitter chocolate and exotic spices, and molten tannins. I'm not sure how you'd serve this monster (15.5% alcohol) but it sure is fun to drink.

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The good news continues as the 2003 Hermitage Ex-Voto may even be the richest of all these wines. Only 4,000 bottles were produced from Guigal's favorite parcels of Hermitage, Les Bessards, l'Hermite, Les Greffieux, and Les Murets. It is the most alcoholic of all the wines at 15%, but its off-the-chart richness, full-bodied, powerful, and amazing creme de cassis flavors along with truffle, crushed rocks, and acacia flowers, are utterly profound. This is one of the great Hermitages and it should last for 50-100 years. Just amazing.

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Exotic, with a gorgeous, mocha-infused fig aroma and rich, flashy flavors of spice, blackberry confiture and licorice. Additional notes of spice cake, incense and loam fill out the finish. This is loaded with structure, but the tannins are silky. A beauty. 350 cases made.

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Really sweet. plum. young delicious. very un-french-like