Certainly the most plush and sexy of the 2018 single vineyard releases, the 2018 Ermitage Les Greffieux is all Syrah from the more sedimentary soils at the base of the Le Méal hillside and was destemmed and brought up in a mix of barrels and demi-muids, with just 20% being new. Its dense purple color is followed by a smorgasbord-like array of black raspberries, smoked game, bouquet garni, violets, and high-end leather. Ripe, sexy and textured on the palate, it still has a weightless mouthfeel, building tannins, and a great finish. It's not quite as massive or concentrated as the 2006, but it's certainly a gorgeous Hermitage. Forget bottles for 4-6 years and enjoy over the following two decades.

Chapoutier's 2018 Ermitage les Greffieux features faint herbal notes and red raspberries on the nose. The most precocious of the 2018 Ermitage samples, it's full-bodied yet silky—almost lush and creamy on the palate, with a long, peppery-spicy finish.

Smoldering tobacco and warm earth notes mix in liberally with a core of steeped plum and blackberry fruit. Shows alder and cedar flashes on the finish, along with a savory edge. This is sneaky long, with a caressing feel. Best from 2023 through 2037.