From a cool, west-facing 2.5 hectare parcel located on the western edge of the Hermitage AOC--and that’s not harvest until two to three weeks after Hermitage--the 2005 Crozes Hermitage les Varonniers offers tons of granite character as well as notes of black currants, black cherry, bouquet garni, and peppery herb-like aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied, fresh, elegant and incredibly youthful, it has fine tannin and an endearing sense of purity and elegance. Drink it anytime over the next 15 or more years.