2021 Northern Rhône

Ermitage De l'Orée comes from 60-70 year-old Marsanne vines from lieu-dit “Les Murets” at the top of the hill. Perfumed with white flowers, stone fruit and quince, the palate is wonderfully textured, with zippy acidity and a chalky, mineral finish. Expertly-judged.

The 2021 Le Clos has a sumptuous nose of fresh fig, cassis, and blueberries as well as hints of flowers and leather. There is tremendous concentration, and a serious quality to its tannins. Aged in a combination of barrels and foudres, with 20% new oak, given a little time this is a classic St Joseph in the making.

Coming from a 65 year old parcel, on the all-granite soils of lieu-dit Les Bessards, the 2021 Le Pavillon displays cassis, blackberry and cracked black pepper notes. On the palate, the tannins are fine and swept along with fresh acidity, underpinned with a lovely, smokiness. This is a captivating Hermitage.

From 50-year-old+ Marsanne vines, whole-bunch pressed and fermented half in 600l oak foudres, half in vats. The vineyards are south facing, and are always the first to be harvested. This is full-bodied, concentrated, powerful and intense on the palate with notes of fresh pear, honey and hazelnuts. Yet a lean, freshness prevails. Incredibly impressive.

This parcel sits at the bottom of the Hermitage hill on alluvial soils. In 2021 it is fleshy and full, with notes of fragrant red and black fruit, game and cracked black pepper. It is detailed, pure, elegant and complex. Utterly charming.

A blend of 65% Grenache and 35% Syrah, the grapes are hand-harvested then undergo a long, slow maceration to gently extract flavours and aromas. Ageing takes place separately, during a period of 18 months - in vats for the Grenache and in large foudres for the Syrah, after which the final cuvée is assembled. The result is a wine packed full of expressive dark and red fruit and garrigue herb aromas. The palate is rich and concentrated with silky, ripe tannins and a long, spicy finish.

This legendary wine comes from the vines situated right at the top of the Hermitage hill, near the St Christophe chapel, on very old, decomposed granite soils. In 2021, the 80-year-old vines produce a fresh, vibrant wine, with lots of pepper, smokiness and blue fruits on the nose, and fine yet spirited tannins. Needs some time to unfurl, yet with outstanding potential.

Les Varonniers comes from Chapoutier's oldest vines (60+ years) in Crozes, grown on south-eastern facing granitic soils. The elegant palate is packed full of cassis, black pepper and smoky notes and despite the cooler nature of the vintage there is wonderful ripeness of fruit. Drinking beautifully now, but with the capacity to go on.

This excellent lieu-dit, south of La Viallière near Ampuis, produces a well-balanced wine, with fresh acidity and fine-grained tannins in 2021. It shows hints of violet on the nose and there is a long, pleasing, mineral finish. This should open up with a little time.

50-year-old Syrah vines grow in the high terraces of shingle and clay on the Hermitage hillside. The 2021 Méal has a rounded, voluminous texture and superb notes of dark fruits, black cherry, smoked meat, leather and a hint of dried rose petal. This already has plenty of complexit

The parcel is situated right at the top of the hill, just around the chapel, where the vines struggle in the poor, granitic soils, resulting in this quite astonishing wine. Full of intensity on the nose, there's mango, citrus peel and a lick of salinity. Precise and hugely energetic, with focused acidity and lots of salty minerality on the finish. Exquisite.

Made from a selection of their oldest Marsanne vines in St Joseph. Superb apricot, white flower and orange blossom aromas combine on the nose, while the palate is mineral and fresh, with a hint of spice on the finish. This shows the classic, focused style of the vintage.

This comes from old vines in the southern part of the St Joseph appellation, on the opposite side of the river to Hermitage. The soils here are poor and stony. Plenty of classic, dark fruits, smokiness and herbal notes run through the palate, laced with ripe, silky tannins and a fresh, uplifting acidity.