Along the same lines, the inky purple colored 2011 Hermitage Gambert de Loche offers up a smoking bouquet of blackberry liqueur, smoked meats and crushed rock-like nuances. High quality to say the least, it is medium to full-bodied, concentrated and structured, with superb purity of fruit. Give it a handful of years in the cellar and enjoy it through 2027. I was blown away by this lineup, and it’s rare to find this level of consistent quality from a co-op. Part of the secret here is that, in addition to requiring long-term contracts, paying for the quality of the grapes and owning their own vineyards, they also operate a state of the art cellar that allows them to process just about any size lot they choose. This is a no-expense-spared operation and the results speak for themselves. Looking at the 2011s, all of the Hermitage releases are impressive and show the vintage nicely. Importer: OWS Imports, Karl Runge

A gutsy style, with cocoa and bacon notes framing the core of steeped plum, blackberry coulis and anise notes. The briary finish reveals a light chewy edge, but this should settle in with brief cellaring. Best from 2016 through 2021. 500 cases made, 100 cases imported.??–JM??Region: France / Northern Rh?ne / Hermitage Select to Add