An incredibly refined, elegant, floral and silky Hermitage. The nose shows notes of dark cherries, forest berries, sweet spices, forest floor and a hint of roasted meat. Medium-bodied with finely grained tannins. It’s very 2021, with freshness and brightness. Violets caress the palate and the pristine, lively finish with length and a touch of pepper. Drink or hold.

A tasting of the constituent lieux-dits before blending was as instructive as ever. Péléat was smooth, silky and red-fruited with good acidity; Beaumes slightly meatier, a little less concentrated than a typical year, but with good tannic drive; L'Ermite was serious, dry and mineral; Bessards very strict, with tight, rigid tannins. The final blend is likely to produce a structural rather than generous style of Hermitage, with tannins that will need a long time in bottle to settle. This will be ascetic in youth, then complex and textural with age.

Among the finest expressions of the challenging 2021 vintage, with finessed ripeness and understated polish. Earthy and salty, offering sanguine animal notes and well-integrated white pepper freshness. Cashmere tannins are softened yet still keep a gentle grip on the finish, which stretches out effortlessly. Sublime now and built to go the distance. Drink now through 2038. — K.B.

While a bottle of the 2021 Hermitage was slightly off during my tasting with Liz, I pulled a bottle from my cellar for the report. Showing consistently from when I tasted it on release at the estate, the 2021 is a classy Hermitage that's as good as anything in the vintage, offering solid ripeness in its red and black fruits as well as peppery herb, sappy flower, leather, and gamey aromas and flavors. Cut from the same cloth as the 2014, it's medium-bodied, has a soft, supple mouthfeel, moderate tannins, and beautiful overall balance. It's going to be on a faster evolutionary track and, I suspect, will hit the early stages of its prime drinking wine in another 4-5 years and keep for two decades.

The refined 2021 L'Hermitage was cropped at 37 hL/ha and bottled in early September 2023. It is laced with finely delineated orange rind, raspberry, red cherry, red plum, dried herbs, pencil shavings, black cherry, crushed violet and cedar. Showing excellent tension on the medium-bodied palate, the 2021 brings it home with clarity and freshness. That being said, it won’t be as long lived as either the 2020 or 2022. -- Nicolas Greinacher