The prodigious 2010 Hermitage reveals classic flowery notes (violets) intermixed with creme de cassis, pen ink, scorched earth and a touch of subtle wood spice in the background. This full-bodied, tannic, muscular blockbuster Hermitage should prove to be a classic, and age effortlessly for 25 or more years. Only patient connoisseurs are advised to take a look at this wine which demands 4-5 years of cellaring. Domaine du Colombier is one of the most underrated estates in the Northern Rhone. Proprietor Viale merits more attention from wine writers, critics, bloggers, etc. given the quality of wines he is producing. Moreover, this is one of the few family-owned domaines producing Hermitage, not to mention their splendid Crozes-Hermitage. 2010 and 2011 are two more top vintages to add to the brilliant trilogy of 2009s they produced. The values from Colombier are Viale’s cuvees of Crozes-Hermitage, both of which are stunning. Importers: Moonlight Wine Co, NY, NY; Farm Wine, San Francisco, CA,; and Galaxy Wine Co, Portland, OR.

From Beaume. To be bottled in April 2012. Half new oak. Deep crimson. Very lively and solid. Real substance. May peak a bit sooner than the absolute classics of this appellation but this is a very good effort. Open and really rather GV . (JR)