Yann Chave has managed to fly under the journalistic radar. His name is rarely included when it comes to rating the tremendously powerful and long-lived wines of Hermitage. This is a shame, or a blessing, depending on weather you are Yann Chave or a lover of Hermitage reds! In 2003 Yann was extremely successful, as were many, many producers in the Northern Rhone. This wine is truly black in color, with a nose of garrigue (wild herbs that grow in this part of the country), spices and black currant liqueur. Make that black currant liqueur that's been condensed into the thickest, most concentrated crème de cassis you could imagine. Tannins are present (this is Hermitage we're talking about, 100% syrah!), but due to the extreme heat of the vintage, they are ripe. And richness? You don't know richness until you've tasted this. Naturally, the wine needs time. But it will repay your patience and then some.