Alain Graillot Crozes Hermitage 2020 (750ML)

92 VM / 92 JD / 89-92 WA

Saturated magenta. Displays expressive red and dark berry, smoked meat, olive and floral qualities on the spice-accented nose. Sappy and penetrating on the palate, offering gently sweet cherry-cola, blackberry and baking spice flavors that show fine detail and a mineral, back-end lift. Finishes very long and subtly chewy, with repeating smokiness, harmonious tannins and strong persistence. Josh Raynolds, Vinous Media

While the 2020 Crozes-Hermitage comes from an incredibly ripe, powerful vintage, it still comes across as classic Northern Rhône in both its aromatics and mouthfeel, which could be explained by the earlier harvesting as well as the 100% stem inclusion. Ripe blackberries, violets, ground pepper, blueberries, smoked meats, and subtle savory, earthy, foresty nuances all define the aromatics, and it's medium-bodied on the palate, with a layered mouthfeel, ripe yet perfectly integrated tannins, good acidity, and a great finish. This gorgeous Crozes-Hermitage is already hard to resist yet will evolve gracefully for another 10-15 years. Give bottles a quick 30-minute decant if drinking any time soon.-Jeb Dunnuck

I tasted three different lots of the 2020 Crozes Hermitage, picked at very different ripeness levels. One, picked on August 23 at just 11.7 degrees of potential alcohol, was light-bodied, with paper-like tannins but charming, cherry-like fruit. Another, picked September 8–10 at 13.8–13.9 degrees, shows more weight, velvety richness and darker-fruit flavors. The bulk was picked somewhere in between, with lively purple raspberry fruit, a crisp, medium-bodied feel on the palate and a bright, vibrant finish.-Joe Czerwinski, The Wine Advocate