A rich and intense red with notes of dark cherries, blackberries, roasted meat, smoke, bark, undergrowth and cloves. It’s full-bodied with fine, firm tannins. It’s creamy and chalky with a rich core of dark cherries and cocoa on the palate. Harmonious structure with a generous, rich finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.

Cherries, blueberries and vanilla cream show up on the nose of the 2019 Hermitage, a full-bodied and relatively lush rendering of the appellation. Filled with mixed berries and soft, ripe tannins, this is pretty seductive stuff. But while approachable now, it looks to have the inherent concentration to age well up to two decades. Tasted twice (once blind), with consistent notes.

Another tremendous effort from the Belle family, the 2018 Hermitage originates from parcels in Les Murets and Péléat. Inky purple, it offers up hints of smoked meat and toasty oak but backs those with waves of intense mixed berries and black olives, plus notes of licorice. Full-bodied, concentrated and powerful, it reveals amazing length on the finish, where notes of crushed stone and licorice provide an invigorating sense of freshness.

Belle's impressive 2017 Hermitage had been blended but not yet bottled at the time of my trip. As always, it's marked by new oak notes of vanilla, menthol and baking spices, but it also boasts massive fruit—mainly ripe red raspberries, but there are some darker notes of plum as well. Full-bodied and creamy textured in the mouth, it remains fresh and spicy on the silky, lingering finish, picking up delectable hints of licorice. Tasted twice (once blind), with consistent notes.