Wine Enthousiast. Tasting date 1/3 2022. Whiffs of espresso, ore and charred meat mingle into thunderous flavors of crème de cassis and roasted plums in this wine. A single-site expression of Les Grandes Vignes from a ripe yet fresh vintage, it's a showstopping Syrah marked with a creamy texture and ripe tannins. Hermitage is not known for youthful pleasures but this rare bottling embraces the hedonism of adolescence along with its potential to gain power and complexity far beyond 2050. — Anna Lee C. Iijima. 97 points. Alistair Cooper (Jancisrobinson.com). Tasting date 14 Oct 2020. 100% Syrah. Cask sample. Tasted blind. Sleek and vibrant primary fruit-led nose. There is a real sense of salinity to the richly textured palate – crushed blackberries and a plush, rounded mouthfeel. Beautifully judged fine tannins support the cool blue-fruit-laden finish. 18.5+ points. Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com, August 2022. The 2019 Hermitage Ligne De Crete Lieu-Dit Les Grandes Vignes comes from the top of Hermitage, in a tiny vineyard of thin, granite soils. It offers a deep purple hue as well as brilliant aromatics of crème de cassis, graphite, chocolate, new saddle leather, and spring flowers. More classic smoky meatiness emerges as it sets in the glass, and it's medium to full-bodied and powerful on the palate, with a concentrated, focused mouthfeel, good acidity, and building tannins. There's nothing out of place and it's not over the top, it’s just pure, classic Hermitage greatness. Hide bottles for 4-5 years and enjoy over the following two decades. 95+ points.