A négociant bottling, the 2017 Hermitage le Rouet Rouge is simple, plummy and direct, with dark fruit, a bit of cedary oak and a touch of licorice. Medium to full-bodied and velvety in texture, with a slightly coarse, tannic finish, it may be consumed now and perhaps for as much as another 8-10 years.

The bloody beef-scented 2016 Hermitage le Rouet Rouge adds hints of baking spices and graham crackers on the nose. It's medium to full-bodied, open-knit and soft in texture, with a slightly coarse finish. Drink this savory, supple example of Hermitage over the next five years or so.

Macerated red fruits with sous bois. Elegant palate of direct red fruit. Tannins integrated. Good, ripe. Southern nature.