Also superb, with ample creme de cassis, licorice, smoked meats and licorice in its big, full-bodied personality, the 2011 Hermitage has a knockout texture, masses of fine tannin and a great finish. Enjoy it over the coming 15 years or more. This was a rock star lineup by owner/winemaker Florent Viale. Covering roughly 13 hectares in Crozes Hermitage (mostly around the villages of Mercurol and Tain) and just under two hectares in Hermitage, the wines from this domaine see a traditional vinification followed by aging mostly in older demi-muids, with new oak kept to around 20% for most of the cuvees. The wines are classic, textbook examples of their appellations and should not be missed. The fact that they can represent good value is just icing on the cake. Importer: The Source, San Francisco, CA; Tel. (415) 621-6151 and Milton Road Trading, www.MiltonRoadTracking.com