2019 Hermitage Ligne de Crete
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Tasting notes
Inky ruby color. Expansive, smoke- and mineral-accented black and blue fruits, licorice, smoky bacon, mocha, violet and licorice on the highly perfumed nose. Appealingly sweet, mineral-accented cassis, boysenberry, fruitcake, floral pastille and vanilla flavors show superb depth and become spicier with aeration. Shows superb detail and mineral lift on the youthfully tannic, extremely persistent and incisive finish, which features resonating floral and exotic spice notes.
Critic scores
Average Score
Alistair Cooper MW, jancisrobinson.com
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
The 2019 Hermitage Ligne De Crete Lieu-Dit Les Grandes Vignes comes from the top of Hermitage, in a tiny vineyard of thin, granite soils. It offers a deep purple hue as well as brilliant aromatics of crème de cassis, graphite, chocolate, new saddle leather, and spring flowers. More classic smoky meatiness emerges as it sets in the glass, and it's medium to full-bodied and powerful on the palate, with a concentrated, focused mouthfeel, good acidity, and building tannins. There's nothing out of place and it's not over the top, it’s just pure, classic Hermitage greatness. Hide bottles for 4-5 years and enjoy over the following two decades.
Marked by scents of cedar, mint, violets and cherries, the 2019 Hermitage Ligne de Crete Les Grandes Vignes really opened up and added weight and texture with air, so I suspect my rating may be stingy. On the palate, it's currently medium to full-bodied, tight and silky in feel, with hints of licorice and maple syrup on the long, mouthwatering finish. Give it a few years, at minimum, in the cellar. Tasted twice (once blind), with consistent notes.
100% Syrah. Cask sample. Tasted blind. Sleek and vibrant primary fruit-led nose. There is a real sense of salinity to the richly textured palate – crushed blackberries and a plush, rounded mouthfeel. Beautifully judged fine tannins support the cool blue-fruit-laden finish. (AC)