This vintage, some tasters may actually prefer the 2019 Crozes Hermitage Cuvee Louis Belle over the Roche Pierre. There's still plenty of cedar and vanilla influence, but more of the fruit comes through and—at least for the moment—the wood and fruit seem better integrated. Mixed berries and cedar mingle easily on the medium to full-bodied palate, swirling into a long, balanced finish with hints of black olives and licorice. Tasted twice (once blind), with consistent notes.

With its deep purple hue and bold scents of toasty oak, licorice and blueberries, the 2018 Crozes Hermitage Cuvee Louis Belle loudly announces its presence in the glass. It's full-bodied and intense—a rocking Crozes that's rich and creamy across the mid-palate, then softly dusty with ripe tannins and plenty of length on the finish. Almost too much at this age—but in a deliciously approachable, sumptuous way—it looks to have at least a decade of longevity.

With its overlay of toasty oak, the full-bodied 2017 Crozes Hermitage Cuvee Louis Belle stands out in a lineup of other Crozes. Cedar and vanilla frame notes of plum and mocha in this full-bodied and velvety but structured wine that finishes just a bit coarse when compared to the superlative 2018.