Domaine de la Ville Rouge, Terre d’Eclat, Crozes-Hermitage, Rhône, 2010

Tasting: Crozes-Hermitage 2010

Dumb nose, a bit tarry and meaty. Rich and suave, but distinctly tannic and rather brutal. Muscular and extracted, tries too hard. Medium length.

Tasting: Crozes-Hermitage 2010

Deep colour, dense near-impenetrable aroma, a function of youth no doubt, a surly state thereof. Palate impresses more, with the sheer weight of black fruit almost redolent of a Cornas. Maybe just a little too extracted for its own good; the notes of mocha and coffee bean slightly distracting in this specific environment.

Tasting: Crozes-Hermitage 2010

Curvy bouquet offering floral, violet airs, pockets of Asian spice, a soft drift of liquorice, an appealing sweetness and near delicacy in its black fruit: a very harmonious nose. Excellent style in the palate fruit, all lissom and well-tuned. Very good flow all through, high on drinkability, tannins are really well in step.