2018 Domaine Belle Hermitage (750ml) Pre-Arrival

"Philippe Belle and his son, Guillaume, continue to turn out some of Northern Rhône's best-kept secrets from their small estate in the hills behind Hermitage. Their Larnage sector of Crozes-Hermitage benefits from having a strong concentration of white clays, which imparts more power to the wines than the typical alluvial deposits found in much of the appellation. Additionally, their hillside has the same southerly exposure as Hermitage itself, making it in effect, a mini-Hermitage. The family also farms small parcels in Hermitage (Péléat for the white, Les Murets for the red) and Saint-Joseph." - Joe Czerwinski (Wine Advocate)

"Belle's 2018 Hermitage is dark, intense and smoky, with mocha and roasted-meat accents to the concentrated blueberry and plum fruit. Full-bodied, packed and powerful, it's another blockbuster Hermitage from the family's parcels in Les Murets and Péléat." 95-97 points - Joe Czerwinski (Wine Advocate, Dec. 2019)