The 2019 Crozes Hermitage Le Grand Courtil, Ferraton's top Crozes, comes from a plot in the commune of Mercurol and ages entirely in barrel (about 15% new oak). Raspberries and cherries dominate the nose, accented by hints of mint and other herbs. It's full-bodied but shows excellent freshness to balance its rich, velvety mouthfeel. Approachable now, it should drink well through at least the end of the decade.

A bit cedary on the nose, the 2018 Crozes Hermitage Le Grand Courtil packs in plenty of dark fruit flavors in behind the oak, offering notes of baked plum and blackberries, plus more savory hints of black olives and licorice. Full-bodied and supple, this velvety-textured offering can be drunk now or anytime over the next decade.

Aged entirely in barrel (15% new), the 2017 Crozes Hermitage Le Grand Courtil shows a hefty dose of smoke, baking spices and pencil shavings at the moment, although there's a solid core of cassis and blueberry fruit. It's full-bodied and concentrated, so give it a year or two to better integrate the oak and soften the dusty tannins on the finish, then drink it over the following decade.

The medium to full-bodied 2016 Crozes Hermitage Le Grand Courtil offers up notes of black olives and cedar alongside hints of mocha and caramel. It's creamy and supple across the mid-palate, then turns firm, dry and savory on the long finish. Give it another couple of years to soften.

The 2015 Crozes Hermitage Le Grand Courtil isn't as aromatically compelling as the Les Pichères bottlings, but it shows similarly concentrated fruit. It's full-bodied and rich, with notes of black olive and hints of cherry framed by firm tannins. Give it several years to come around.