This has some weight, but is relatively juicy, medium-bodied and approachable for a Hermitage. Balanced acidity, good freshness, texture and bite, this needs a little time but not 10 years. Tannic for a 2023. 100% whole bunch, from lieux-dits Les Plantiers and Les Bessards. 10% matured in amphora - new for this vintage. (MW)

Sorrel’s 2023 Hermitage was crafted from vines planted in the lieux-dits Les Bessards and Les Plantiers on granite soils. Vinified with 100% whole bunches and matured for 18 months, it was neither fined nor filtered. Despite being the most reductive wine in the cellar, it wafts from the glass with aromas of lilac, violet, pepper, dark berries and cassis mingled with licorice. Medium- to full-bodied, layered and concentrated, it’s built around a seamless core of fruit supported by vibrant acidity. It has a tensile profile derived from whole clusters and is framed by velvety and fresh tannins, concluding with a long, ethereal finish. This is an exquisite wine that should age gracefully over the next two decades and beyond. (YC) 95+