2015 Hermitage, Domaine du Colombier

Still very much in embryonic form upon tasting in 2016 as a barrel sample, it gives just a sense of the potential of this vintage in Florent’s talented hands. Concentrated and structured, with considerable swirling dark, brooding fruit and spice abound. One for the long haul: your patience will be rewarded.

Due to tiny quantities and high demand this wine is limited to 12 bottles per customer.

Critic score
95/100
Pricing
In bond
Duty paid
Bottle
From a client
2 available
£56.74
Buy Duty Paid
Case, 6 Bottles
From a client
1 available
£476.88
Buy Duty Paid
Case, 6 Bottles
From a client
Report
1 available
£512.88
Buy Duty Paid

WINE DETAILS

  • Region & country
    Hermitage, Northern Rhône, Rhône, France
  • Maturity
    Ready 2020 - 2038
  • Colour
    Red
  • Sweetness
    Dry
  • Style
    Still
  • Unit Volume
    Bottle (75cl.)
2015 Hermitage, Domaine du Colombier

TASTING NOTES

Jeb Dunnuck, robertparker.com (December 2016)
93—95/100

All destemmed, aged for 18 months in demi-muids. Remarkable aromatic finesse already, boding well for the future; it majors on rich, ripe fruit rather than oak. Very full and rounded, but full of life and energy, this is buzzing with vitality. It has fresh, lip-smacking acidity and tannin, and a very long finish. A fantastic balance between freshness, concentration and pure, regal Hermitage fruit. Whatever style of Hermitage you like, this shouldn’t disappoint - it has depth and power as well as finesse. Very impressive, complete wine.

Matt Walls, timatkin.com (October 2016)
96/100
Domaine du Colombier

Florent and David Viale own nearly 17 hectares in the northern Rhône, where they produce both red and white Hermitage and Crozes-Hermitage. They used to sell the wine from their three plots in Hermitage to Guigal, and their red Crozes-Hermitage to Ogier and to Burgundy, but from 1991 they bottled their own. In the cellar, the Viales prefer oak not to dominate the purity of the fruit. They use large oak tonneaux, where the wines take on terrific finesse and balance.

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