As usual, Sorrel's 2019 Hermitage isn't a big bruiser, but instead delivers silken elegance. Hints of mint (it was made using 100% whole bunches) accent redcurrants and ripe cherries, and while the palate is medium to full-bodied, it never seems heavy or overly rich (it clocks in at 14% alcohol), instead delivering supple tannins and tremendous inner-mouth fragrance. It should drink well for more than a decade.

Sorrel's 2018 Hermitage is floral and red fruited, with delicate tea-like nuances entwined with violets, raspberries and cherries. It's full-bodied but not overly weighty or rich, showcasing the rarely seen elegant side to this appellation.

Peppery and meaty notes combine with ripe cherries and cassis on the nose of the 2017 Hermitage. It's medium to full-bodied, possessing a certain tension between the fruit, the crisp acids and the firm tannins. There's more austerity to this wine than in most vintages, and it shows some dusty tannins on the finish.

From barrel, the 2016 Hermitage is impressive. Produced from yields of only 20 hectoliters per hectare, it’s more concentrated than normal, showing intense dark fruit and firm tannins.