Delas, Le Clos (tank sample), Crozes-Hermitage, Rhône, 2010

Tasting: Crozes-Hermitage 2010

Brawny nose, quite feral, seems surprisingly evolved. Lush, full-bodied, sumptuous and packed with fruit, dense but not tough tannins, and there’s a welcome freshness on the mid-palate. Has power without being extracted, and there’s plenty of grip on the finish. Long.

Tasting: Crozes-Hermitage 2010

Deep colour and rather a clumsy medicinal nose; palate take this rather disagreeable note on, most sportingly, but looks set to lose the battle, such is the virulence of this condition.

Tasting: Crozes-Hermitage 2010

Peppery first air, with smoked, cedar style airs, blackberry fruit in behind, a nuance of flowers. Mildly scented palate, which misses a beat in its matter, lacks a real gras at its core. Made to last over the longer term, I suspect. Fine circle of red berry fruit on the finish, so length is correct. Harmonious.