Deep in color, the 2013 Crozes Hermitage Au Fil du Temps is easily one of the top handful of Crozes Hermitage in the vintage. It’s inky, saturated purple color is followed by sensational notes of blackberries, plums, wood smoke and scorched earth. These flow to a medium to full-bodied, concentrated and structured Syrah that needs 3-5 years of cellaring, and will keep for two decades. It was completely destemmed, vinified in concrete tanks and spent 18 months in a combination of once-used, small barrels and demi-muids. Hats off to the team for this rocking Crozes Hermitage.