Guigal, Ermitage Ex Voto other_regions_italy Underneath all of that plush

Underneath all of that plush fruit is a stony core of structure and myriad spicy complexities that should sustain it for decades to come

but on July 19th everything changed and the year was saved by some 40 liters of rain

starting with the 2014 Doix Costers de Vinyes Velles

thick and unctuous effort that's overflowing with notes of browned butter

Guigal, Ermitage Ex Voto other_regions_italy Underneath all of that plushThe 2010 Hermitage Ex Voto continues to top out on my scale. This extraordinary Hermitage has more minerality and delineation than the 2009, as well as overflowing aromas and flavors of creme de cassis, jammy blackberries, violets, graphite and wood smoke. Massively concentrated, full bodied, decadent, layered and sexy, it needs short term cellaring but should be just about immortal in the cellar.