I tasted the 2020 Crozes Hermitage Mis en Bouche from tank, as it had been blended a week before my visit. Hints of tar and black olive accent blackberries and spice on the nose, while the medium to full-bodied palate is plush and velvety in texture. Long and mouthwatering on the finish, this is really good entry-level stuff for drinking over the next 5 years or so.

Darnaud's 2019 Crozes Hermitage Mis en Bouche contains an unusually high proportion of whole clusters and press wine, giving it a more tannic nature than usual. Floral and stemmy notes accent black cherries and blackberries in this full-bodied wine that's a bit firm, but it's still mouthwatering and long on the finish.

The medium to full-bodied 2018 Crozes Hermitage Mis en Bouche is delightfully gulpable stuff, bursting with scents of violets, cracked pepper and mixed berries, then supple and charming on the palate, with a fine, silky finish. Drink it with abandon over the next five years.

Thirty percent of the entry-level 2017 Crozes Hermitage Mis en Bouche spent time in wood, but the emphasis here is on the fruit—and immediate accessibility. Brambly notes accent fresh cherries in this silky-textured, medium-bodied Syrah. It's a great quaffing wine, just so easy to drink, with delicate tannins and a bright finish.

For an entry-level offering, the 2016 Crozes Hermitage Mis en Bouche is looking good. Floral, slightly stemmy notes on the nose give way to delicate, refined berry flavors in this medium-bodied, supple wine. Drink it over the next several years.