Bottled just a week before my visit, the 2016 Crozes Hermitage Roche Pierre (old-vine Syrah on granitic soils, aged close to two years in barrel) seemed a bit reticent and tight. Pencil shavings frame plummy fruit in this medium to full-bodied effort. The suave, fine-grained tannins come close to being silky in feel on the lingering finish. This is the rare Crozes-Hermitage that's capable of rivaling Hermitage itself.