Starting off the four selection parcellaires releases and from a lieu-dit located just at the bottom of the Le Méal lieu-dit, the 2014 Ermitage les Greffieux was completely destemmed, vinified all in concrete (as are the vast majority of Michel’s wines) and aged in a combination of 25% new barrels and demi-muids. Inky black/blue colored, full-bodied, rich and sexy with a beautifully expansive, mouth filling texture, it has classic Hermitage notes of lead pencil, liquid rock, black olive and assorted darker fruits. It’s shockingly good in the vintage and will have two or more decades of prime drinking.

Full bottle 1,394 g. From a site at the bottom of the Hermitage hill, a glacial, alluvial-deposit terrace composed of shingles and clay. Hand-picked, 100% destemmed, vinified in concrete with a long maceration and only free-run juice. Aged for 14 to 18 months in casks, one-third new. Natural clarification and unfined. Certified biodynamic. Mid shaded ruby. Meaty, pungent, classic black-pepper north Rhône nose with a hint of tar and, still, quite a bit of tannin obvious on the palate before a very long finish. Serious wine that's much less expensive than its fellow Ermitage rouges. It's only just approachable, I'd say. Full of beans and potential but not aggressively alcoholic. (JR)