Once again, an inky/purple color as well as notes of graphite, licorice, white chocolate, espresso, creme de cassis and blackberries soar from the glass of the 2010 Crozes-Hermitage Cuvee Gaby. Tightly-knit but loaded with potential as well as promise, it should be forgotten for several years and consumed over the following 15+.
Domaine du Colombier is one of the most underrated estates in the Northern Rhone. Proprietor Viale merits more attention from wine writers, critics, bloggers, etc. given the quality of wines he is producing. Moreover, this is one of the few family-owned domaines producing Hermitage, not to mention their splendid Crozes-Hermitage. 2010 and 2011 are two more top vintages to add to the brilliant trilogy of 2009s they produced. The values from Colombier are Viale’s cuvees of Crozes-Hermitage, both of which are stunning.
Importers: Moonlight Wine Co, NY, NY; Farm Wine, San Francisco, CA,; and Galaxy Wine Co, Portland, OR.