Ferraton Hermitage Les Dionniers 2017 (750ML)

97 JD / 96 VM / 96 DE / 95 WS

The 2017 Hermitage Les Dionnières is more deep, structured, and serious, with killer notes of crème de cassis, graphite, ground pepper, and inky notes. Rich, full-bodied, beautifully concentrated, and with both tannins and acidity to burn, give bottles 5-6 years and enjoy over the following 20+ years. Jeb Dunnuck

Opaque ruby. Highly expressive aromas of black/blue fruit preserves, exotic spices and incense pick up a smoky nuance as the wine opens up. Seamless and broad in the mouth but distinctly energetic as well, offering intense, mineral-inflected black raspberry, bitter cherry and blueberry flavors and a hint of candied violet. Finishes seamless and extremely long, with an echo of juicy blue fruit and harmonious tannins that add gentle grip. This wine is an especially lively example of the vintage; no way I would have guessed that it came from a hot year. (20% whole clusters and 25% new oak) - Josh Raynolds, Vinous Media

From south-facing vines on clay-limestone soils, the fruit was fermented in concrete and will be aged for up to 18 months in oak, around 25% new. The oak is robust but can't entrap the dynamic fruit. There's a touch of rich plum compote to the ripe blackberry on the very full-bodied and thick palate. It's very intense - the extraction has been pushed as far as it can comfortably go - but it has bags of energy, freshness and saline drive keeping things drinkable onto an exceptionally long finish. One of the biggest 2017 Hermitage reds. Don't drink it young. MW - Decanter.com Drinking Window 2026 - 2035

Fleshy and enticing in feel, featuring warm raspberry, blackberry and plum puree notes stitched together with ganache, alder and tobacco threads. A loamy tug checks in at the very end, giving this latent length and a solid bass line. Best from 2022 through 2035. From France. - JM, Wine Spectator