2019 Crozes-Hermitage, Le Clos, Delas Freres

A smaller production release, the 2019 Crozes-Hermitage Le Clos hails from the Les Saviots lieu-dit and was brought up mostly in neutral oak. It's a denser, more closed wine offering serious aromatics of ripe black and blue fruits, scorched earth, graphite, and saddle leather, with an almost Hermitage-like sense of meatiness and power. Full-bodied and concentrated on the palate, with notable purity, it has some background oak, ripe tannins, good freshness, and a great finish. It needs to be forgotten for at least 3-4 years and will keep for well over a decade. It's a brilliant wine. ~ (94) Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com 8-11-2022

The 2019 Crozes Hermitage le Clos managed to escape hail damage but remains an intense, concentrated effort. Hints of violets and garrigue appear on the nose alongside cassis and black cherries, while the full-bodied palate is supple, leading into a long, licorice-tinged finish. Drink it over the next decade or so. Tasted twice (once blind), with consistent notes. ~ (93) Joe Czerwinski, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate 1-20-2022

~ (94) Josh Raynolds, Vinous 12-1-2022