Paul Jaboulet AinéHermitage La Maison Bleue 2016

This is a juicy and flavorful young wine with dusty and polished tannins. Lots of wild fruit and dark-berry and volcanic/salt undertones. Flavorful finish.

Vivid purple. Expressive, smoke- and spice-accented dark fruit preserve, potpourri and incense scents are complemented by hints of licorice and olive paste. At once ripe and lively in the mouth, offering densely packed blackberry, blueberry and spicecake flavors that become spicier with aeration. Sneaky tannins give shape and solid grip to an impressively long, energetic finish that features lingering suggestions of candied flowers and dark berries.

-- Josh Raynolds

The charming, already drinkable 2016 Hermitage La Maison Bleue comes from the eastern portion of the appellation. Raspberries and cherries lead the way in this full-bodied, velvety, lush offering, picking up subtle hints of baking spices on the long, silky finish.

The 2016 Hermitage La Maison Bleue (2,000 cases) comes from vines on the eastern side of the appellation and more sedimentary and limestone soils. This deep ruby/purple-colored beauty gives up loads of black raspberry, toasted spiced, incense, and crushed rock aromatics. This flows to a ripe, sexy, medium to full-bodied Hermitage that has moderate tannins, a layered, beautifully pure, elegant, even charming texture, and a great finish. It's already approachable yet will have 10-15 years of prime drinking.