Moving to the reds from bottle, both these 2020s have incredibly concentrated, pure, focused styles that remind me of 2010. The 2020 Hermitage is inky hued, with sensational notes of red, blue, and black fruit as well liquid rock, graphite, burning embers, saddle leather, and hints of candied orange zest. It's a massive, concentrated, powerful wine, yet it stays balanced, has a good sense of freshness, building tannins, and a great finish. As with most great vintages here, it's going to need a decade of bottle age to shed its baby fat and will be a classic Hermitage to enjoy over the following 30 years or so. Maturity 2034-2064.

Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com (March 2024)

The 2020 vintage is 'an amazing surprise', according to Jean-Louis Chave. 'It's like the vines adapted to the heat of the vintage - so it's full of hope for me.' A tasting of the different lieux-dits confirms that although this is a hot, dry vintage, the whites have a great sense of freshness, balance and vivacity. This doesn't have the same sense of power and extract as the 2017 or 2019; it is slimmer and more precise, will offer a lot of pleasure early on and will age well, too.

Tasted in components, before the final blending and rest before bottling, this wine is shaping up to be monumental, and it's from a domaine that has made far more than a few remarkable wines. There's intense dark fruit, suave floral and exotic spice character and a deep, energizing core of minerality, plus hints of olive, botanical herbs, licorice and smoked meat. But ultimately, it mainly focuses on powerful, vibrant fruit and floral qualities, making it a particularly elegant rendition of the appellation. I can't wait to see the bottled result.

A fragrant nose of blackberries, dark cherries, wild herbs, baking spices, stones and black pepper. Medium body with fine, firm tannins. It has volume and structure, but remains extremely agile. It has bright acidity and a vibrant peppery character, giving vitality and tension on the palate. Well-rounded and vivid with a succulent and textured, long developing finish. Best after 2026.

James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com (April 2023)

Saturated violet color. Highly fragrant black and blue fruits, incense, vanilla, exotic spices and a strong violet note on the expressive nose, along with smoky mineral and olive nuances that emerge with air. Sappy, penetrating and animated on the palate, showing impressive depth and delineation to its sweet boysenberry, cherry liqueur, salty olive, allspice and floral pastille flavors. At once rich and lively in character, finishing with impressive power, youthfully gripping tannins and lingering spice, mineral and floral notes. Aged in new, 600 liter oak barrels. Drinking Window 2029-2039.

Josh Raynolds, Vinous (December 2022)

The 2020 Hermitage from Jean-Louis Chave exhibits aromas of smoke, spices, blood and carnal notes mingled with coniferous forest. Full-bodied, rich and dense, it's robust and somewhat compact, framed by structured tannins that give it an introverted profile. Concluding with notes of bay leaf and pencil lead, it's relatively firm in the finish. Its depth and structured character require patience.

Cask samples tasted at the domaine. Sample 1: Le Péléat. Rich but silky with supple tannins. Less power. Sample 2: Beaume. A little more power and spicy aromas. Sample 3: Le Méal. Rich and ripe with an added depth of fruit but freshness all the same. Handles the 15% alcohol. Sample 4: L’Hermite. Graphite notes and a greater impression of freshness through and through. Provides a cool, steely edge and persistence. Sample 5: Les Bessards. Impressive breadth and volume of fruit and tannin. Chocolate notes add another dimension. Lovely expression. (JL)