Marked by intense aromas of licorice and seared beefsteak, Darnaud's 2018 Crozes Hermitage Au Fil du Temps backs those up with notes of blueberries and black olives. Full-bodied, richly concentrated and tannic—but supple and ripe—with a bright, refreshing and lengthy finish, it's a beauty of a Crozes to drink over the next decade

A top-notch example of Crozes, Darnaud's 2017 Crozes Hermitage Au Fil du Temps comes from older vines in Pont de l'Isère and Roche de Glun. Complex savory notes of smoke, meat and black olives mark the nose, while the palate is medium to full-bodied, earthy, velvety and rich, finishing long and ripe, framed by soft, dusty tannins. It has a decade of good drinking ahead of it.

Darnaud's top Crozes is the Au Fils du Temps, which is only made in great vintages. The 2015 and 2017 are undoubtedly stronger efforts, but the medium to full-bodied 2016 Crozes Hermitage Au Fil du Temps is supple and creamy-ripe, loaded with cherries and accented by hints of vanilla and mocha. Silky and easy to drink, it should be consumed prior to 2025.

A bit more closed and tannic than the Les Trois Chenes bottling, the 2015 Crozes Hermitage Au Fil du Temps really needs a few years to relax. It's full-bodied and rich, with campfire notes (maturation was in 50% new oak and 50% second use oak) accenting dark fruit and an impressive, velvety finish.

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.