2018 E. Guigal Ermitage Ex Voto

Last of the 2018s, the 2018 Hermitage Ex Voto shows a riper, more sunny profile and has a killer nose of ripe blackberries, cassis, spice, game, woodsmoke, and bacon fat. The tannins from Hermitage always have a different feel from the Côte Rôtie releases, and this is full-bodied, with a refined, seamless mouthfeel, beautiful structure, and a great finish. The balance, as well as the purity, are just about off the charts. This is another magical 2018 from this team that flirts with perfection. Hide bottles for 7-8 years and enjoy over the following 30 years or more.

Inky ruby color. Ripe black and blue fruits, Moroccan spices, smoky bacon, incense, olive, candied flowers and licorice on the hugely perfumed nose. Alluringly sweet and penetrating in the mouth, offering palate-staining, mineral-driven cherry, blackberry, floral pastille and exotic spice flavors that are underscored by a core of juicy acidity. Lingers with outstanding tenacity on the youthfully tannic, almost endless finish, which leaves behind sappy dark berry, spice and floral notes.

Not yet bottled, the 2018 Ermitage Ex Voto brings another level of purity and precision, as well as concentration. Deep purple-hued, with brilliant cassis and blue fruits as well as liquid rock-like minerality, it has perfectly integrated oak, flawless tannins, a stacked mid-palate, and a great, great finish. I wrote “heavenly stuff” in my notes. This will require a solid decade of bottle age and should have 30-40 years of longevity if stored correctly.