Guigal's 2017 Hermitage is a rich, full-bodied but approachable effort, with notes of roasted meat, black cherries and grilled plums, plus hints of dried spices, including star anise. It's nearly creamy in texture, with a lush mouthfeel and ample length on the finish. In the rarefied world of Hermitage, it should be a decent value and reasonably available, with close to 3,000 cases produced.

There's no Ex Voto red in this vintage, so that wine has been blended into the 2016 Hermitage. The result is a firm, sturdy wine that needs some time to come around. Cedar and dried spices mark the nose, while the palate is fleshed out by cherry and espresso notes. Full-bodied and supple on the mid-palate, it tightens up considerably on the finish, ending with firm, dusty tannins.