Florent Viale held back two demi-muids of Crozes Hermitage to make the 2018 Crozes Hermitage Blanc Cuvee Gaby. It's toastier and richer than the regular bottling, more expansive and full-bodied in the mouth, but built along similar lines, with pear and melon flavors and hints of honeyed nuts and toasted grain.

The 2017 Crozes Hermitage Blanc Cuvee Gaby delivers notes of ripe melon combined with orange marmalade and adds an attractive hint of scorched citrus zest. Medium to full-bodied, with a silky texture and a long finish, it should continue to drink well for at least another year or so.

Largely neutral in aroma, the 2016 Crozes Hermitage Blanc Cuvee Gaby is an understated but silky-textured white ideal for drinking over the next couple of years. Melon and citrus flavors provide just enough interest in this easy-drinking, medium to full-bodied white.

A step up over the straight Crozes Blanc, the 2014 Crozes Hermitage Blanc Cuvee Gaby has terrific notes of sautéed apples, citrus, vanilla cream and hints of crushed rock in a medium to full-bodied, beautifully fresh, layered styled that has both richness and freshness. This was a difficult vintage for Crozes due to the excessive precipitation, but this is rock solid and well worth following over the coming 2-4 years at a minimum.

Tasted out of barrel, the 2013 Crozes Hermitage Blanc Cuvee Gaby should be outstanding. Offering up lots of tropical fruits, creme brulee and honeyed peach, it's full-bodied, voluptuous and concentrated, with good acidity and notable focus on the finish. It shows the house style nicely and should drink well on release.