Domaine Gilles Robin, Hermitage (Rhône Valley, France) 2009

This is the inaugural vintage of Robin’s Hermitage, made from purchased grapes grown on granite.  With prices for vineyard land on the Hermitage hill exorbitant, Robin is proud to have found a source of high-quality grapes without having to buy land.  Only nine barrels of this wine were made with the wine spending 18 months in the 228 liter barrels.  The wine is a dense, opaque purple.  The explosive aromatics of the perfumed nose include violet candies, garrigue, licorice, black pepper, sap, smoke, and meat.  These aromas provide complexity to the dark, hard fruits of cassis, blackberry, and plum.  The wine is juicier on the nose than on the palate.  The wine is well-structured with dusty tannins, bright acidity, and dense fruit.  The finish persists with baking spice, herbs, and mineral.  Decant this wine before drinking, or in an ideal situation age it for several years.