Domaine du Colombier Hermitage Rouge 2017

Importer’s Notes

Domaine du Colombier Hermitage Rouge 2017

VINIFICATION AND MATURATION:
Maintenance of the vines and harvest was carried out by hand. Grapes were vinified for 26 days with pumpovers occurring twice each day. Sixty-five percent of the stems were kept during the vinification process. The wine was then matured in demi-muid 600L barrels (20% new, 40%, 2nd fill, 40% 3rd fill) for 20 months prior to release.

Reviews

Wine Advocate – “From the 2017 vintage, the Viales bottled a single tonneau of 2017 Domaine du Colombier Hermitage Rouge in a heavy bottle; the label is otherwise identical to the regular bottling. This is riper and darker-fruited, with notes of cassis and blackberry rather than red berries. Full-bodied, expansive and powerful, it’s also richly tannic and in need of cellaring. It’s like the volume has been turned up to 11 but without any sense of distortion.” (96+ Pts)

Jeb Dunnuck – “Brought up in 30% new demi-muids, with the balance in used barrels, the 2017 Domaine du Colombier Hermitage Rouge is beautifully pure and layered, with smoking good notes of crème de cassis, white flowers, crushed rocks, and violets. Deep, full-bodied, and concentrated on the palate, it has plenty of tannins and is going to need 5-7 years of bottle age. This is a sensational Hermitage from Colombier that will drink well for 25+ years.” (96+ Pts)

Decanter – “From vines on clay-limestone soils in lieux dits Beaumes and Diognières, the fruit is fermented in concrete than aged for 18 months in demi-muids, 30% new and 70% second use. Rosemary and juniper sit amongst lifted blackberry and black cherry fruit. The medium-bodied palate is concentrated yet very fresh and lively, without excess oak or extraction. It buzzes with energy; lifted and drinkable. Really fresh, precise and crisp tannins lead to a long, saline and dynamic finish. A good year for Domaine du Colombier.” (96 Pts)

Wine Enthusiast – “Crisp blackberry and black-currant aromas are accentuated by savory bramble and smoked meat in this wine. It’s tightly wound in youth but the concentrated black-fruit flavor and fine, firm tannins should open and meld with time. A beautiful wine already, lifted by a firm, cooling minerality, it will continue to improve through 2035 and hold longer still.” (95 Pts)