Wine Advisor
Domaine du Colombier, Hermitage Rouge 2017
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Joe Czerwinski
Colombier's 2017 Hermitage starts off a bit lifted and minty on the nose, but those elements are balanced by the wine's huge fruit. Waves of concentrated cherry and raspberry flavors wash over the full-bodied palate, pummeled into shape by equally big tannins. This is promising, but it deserves a few more years of cellaring.
About the Producer
The continuing elevation of this Domaine into the lofty heights of Hermitage greatness is testament to the hard work of the tall, spindly owner Florent Viale. He gives his wines a prolonged maturation of a year and a half which he believes removes the need for filtration and prefers using oak tonneaux for this process rather than the smaller 225 litre barriques so as not to dampen terroir and fruit. As a result, both the Cuvée Gaby and Hermitage are powerful and wholesome but not without a touch of class. The latter wine comes from several parcels on the hill of Hermitages including Les Bessards. The grapes are destalked and Florent never uses more than 20% new oak. The wines are therefore a surprisingly elegant example of Hermitages.
