The 2022 Cornas Chante Perdrix presents a fascinating paradox. It is crafted from vines in the lieux-dits Champrose, Reynards and Saint-Pierre. The first two, Champrose and Reynards, were among the earliest plots harvested in 2022, while Saint-Pierre was the very last plot harvested by Maison Delas. Revealing a broody, introverted bouquet of iris, flowers, rose and licorice, it's medium to full-bodied, dense and powerful, characterized by structured tannins and a fleshy core of fruit, leading to a long, elegant and tense finish. Despite its austere, firm character, it's perfectly crafted.

The 2022 Saint-Joseph Sainte-Epine is a real success at this address. It is crafted from vines planted on granite soils facing southwest in the commune of Saint-Jean de Muzols. This location is cooler than other plots in the same commune due to its proximity to the Doux River, which enhances the grapes’ ability to maintain freshness and balance. Revealing a complex, fresh and redolent bouquet of licorice, dark berries, dark cherries and flowers, despite the presence of oak, it's medium to full-bodied, layered and structured, complemented by a fleshy core of fruit, satiny tannins and a long, ethereal and telluric finish. It will age very nicely.

Highly spiced, nutmeg and cinnamon nose. Fairly full-bodied, this is a sweetly ripe and oak-driven style. It’s powerful, with serious drive and quite potent alcohol. A bit of a beast! It should have the concentration and freshness to sustain the wine for long enough to swallow the new oak. For those that like an oaky style, this is a very good example. It’s not overly drying on the finish, and the fruit is strong and pure. From the lieu-dit St-Epine in St-Jean-de-Muzols in the heart of the appellation. Aged half in new, half in one-year-old barrels. Certified Haute Valeur Environnementale.

This cuvée, as always, shines brilliantly at this address. The 2022 Hermitage Les Bessards releases aromas of licorice, spices, dark berries, cassis and mulberries. It boasts a full-bodied, dense and layered palate with a concentrated, fleshy fruit core, followed by filigreed and velvety tannins, leading to a pure, delicate, mineral and prolonged finish. The grapes were entirely destemmed, and the wine matured in barrels, 20% of which were new. This vintage of Les Bessards is shaping into a stunning bottle, exemplifying controlled power and a racy character.

In comparison to the 2022, the 2023 Hermitage Domaine des Tourettes Blanc is less introverted and more energetic at this stage. Unfurling in the glass with aromas of spring blossoms, ripe pear, white fruits and spices mingled with delicate notes of flowers with aeration, it's medium to full-bodied, layered and concentrated, rather rich and muscular yet elegant and fresh, concluding with a long, sapid and saline finish enhanced by gastronomic bitterness. Pure and elegant, this is a sumptuous rendition of this Hermitage hill, perfectly crafted by Jacques Grange and his team.