The 2012 Crozes Hermitage Vieilles Vignes comes from 50-60-year-old vines, from steep granite soils, and was aged in 20% new French oak. Medium to full-bodied, fresh and long, it offers up textbook Northern Rhone aromas of blackberry, spice and smoked meats. It should be an outstanding bottle of wine and drink nicely for 8-10 years. Proprietor Michel Tardieu makes a bevy of high-class efforts from throughout the entire Rhone Valley. While the focus here is on his Northern Rhone releases, I reviewed a number of his Southern Rhone bottlings in Issues 209 and 210. Importer: Wilson-Daniels, St. Helena, CA; tel. (707) 963-9661