1996 Crozes Hermitage Domaine Roure

In 1996, this firm launched its first vintage of Crozes-Hermitage Domaine Raymond Roure, a small estate purchased from Monsieur Roure. The dark purple-colored 1996 is muscular, medium to full-bodied, dense, backward, and massive, with eye-popping levels of acidity, tannin, and extract, excellent purity, and a savory mouthfeel once past all the acid and tannin. This wine is somewhat of a gamble given its extremely backward style, but I would not be surprised to see everything come into balance around 2008, and the wine should continue to develop through 2020 - it's that impenetrable and dense. Importer: Frederick Wildman, New York, NY; tel. (212) 355-0700

An impressive offering from Crozes-Hermitage is Jaboulet's 1996 Crozes-Hermitage Raymond Roure. One-thousand cases were produced of this fabulous wine, which was aged nearly two years in wood, and came in at a remarkably high 13.2% natural alcohol. It offers an opaque plum/ruby color, as well as a super-rich, concentrated, weighty, full-bodied, monster personality with the vintage's acidity nearly buried by the wine's high extract and muscular, super-concentrated style. This immensely impressive, classic, old style Crozes-Hermitage behaves like a top-flight Cornas. Anticipated maturity: 2001-2016. Importer: Frederick Wildman, New York, NY; tel. (212) 355-0700 Feb 1999, www.robertparker.com

Good deep ruby-red color. Liqueur-like chocolate, raisin and game aromas. Very good concentration and impressive sweetness in the mouth, with sound acids buffered by the wine strong material. Firm, long finish features good grip; the tannins coat the mouth. This will age well.