Even better and a stunning barrel sample, the 2012 Hermitage Epsilon is the top Hermitage of the co-op. A blend of 100% Syrah that’s aged 18 months in 100% new French oak, it offers gorgeous creme de cassis, licorice, black raspberry and toasty notes to go with medium to full-bodied richness and depth on the palate. Pure, elegant and lively on the palate, with terrific focus and tension, this beauty will benefit from short-term cellaring and have 15+ years of longevity. 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