2016 Hermitage
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Tasting notes
Inky ruby color. Displays powerful, spice-tinged cherry, blackcurrant, licorice, game and violet scents that take on a minerally aspect with air. Juicy and energetic on the palate, offering sappy dark fruit and floral pastille flavors that are given a spicy edge by a touch of black pepper. Fine-grained tannins build slowly on a long, lively finish that strongly echoes the floral and mineral notes.
Critic scores
Average Score
Richard Hemming MW, jancisrobinson.com
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
Lastly, the 2016 Hermitage was brought up in a mix of tank and barrels, 30% being new. Its medium ruby color is followed by a ripe, sexy wine that has lots of blackberry and currant fruits, notes of leafy herbs, spice, and crushed rock, medium to full body, and a rounded, nicely textured profile on the palate. It needs 2-3 years of bottle age and will keep for a decade. It’s important to realize that while the Cave de Tain is a co-op, they also have some of the largest holdings in Hermitage as well as in Crozes Hermitage. As I’ve said in the past, this is a brilliant co-op, and the wines compete with the best out there.
The 2016 Hermitage Grand Classique includes the fruit that normally would've been kept aside for the luxury bottlings, so it's more impressive than usual. Smoky, bacony notes accent supple red fruit notes, the palate is full-bodied and velvety, and the long finish picks up attractive hints of mocha.
Rather lean for Hermitage, with bitterness and sourness to finish. Has the austerity associated with Hermitage, but not the fruit generosity. (RH)