2019 Hermitage
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Tasting notes
95% Marsanne, 5% Roussanne. Honey, almond, pear and caramel from new oak. Full, expressive, rich palate with viscosity, oak spice and powerful fruit giving substance. Low acid: the structure comes from flesh not bones. (RH)
Critic scores
Average Score
Richard Hemming MW, jancisrobinson.com
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
Where the 2018s lead with their fruit, the 2019s lead with their tannins, and that's readily apparent with the 2019 Hermitage. A deep purple-hued effort, it boasts terrific notes of darker fruits, smoked meats, graphite, and crushed stone. Powerful, structured, and full-bodied, it's a brilliant Hermitage in the making, although not for those looking for instant gratification. Hide bottles for 7-8 years, and it will have two decades thereafter of prime drinking.
Glass-staining ruby. Powerful, mineral- and smoke-accented black and blue fruit, potpourri, olive and vanilla aromas acquire a spicy nuance as the wine opens up. Offers densely packed cherry-cola, cassis and blueberry flavors that show excellent clarity and a smoky top note. Finishes impressively long, youthfully chewy and spicy, with building tannins and a suave, lingering candied violet note. 50% new oak.
Guigal's full-bodied 2019 Hermitage delivers classic notes of roasted meat, raspberries and cherries. Slightly open-knit and even a touch coarse in texture, it looks to be a relatively quick-maturing example of this storied appellation.