Paul Jaboulet-Aîné : La Maison Bleue 2020

An intense nose expressing dark notes of blackberries, dark plums, mocha, stones, bark and hints of grilled herbs and undergrowth. It’s full-bodied with fine tannins. It’s restrained and ample with layers and texture. Focused with a dense core of dark fruits and some bitter chocolate and spices towards the long finish. Try after 2027.

There are under 2,000 cases of the 2020 Hermitage La Maison Bleue, which comes from the Murets, La Croix, and Dionnières lieux-dits on the eastern side of Hermitage. This classic, elegant, charming effort has beautiful dark, almost blue fruits, plenty of violet, graphite, and chocolate nuances, medium to full body, and a round, supple, sexy style. This beauty is going to benefit from just 2-4 years and evolve for 15+.

Just a step behind La Chapelle this vintage, the 2020 Hermitage La Maison Bleue expresses the non-granitic side of Hermitage, in its opulent fruit and early accessibility. Ripe cherries and raspberries dominate the nose, while the full-bodied palate is a bit warm (it's labeled at 15.5% alcohol) with supple tannins and a long, almost creamy-textured finish.