Domaine du Colombier Hermitage 2016 Northern Rhone

The continuing elevation of this domaine into the pantheon of Hermitage greatness is testament to the ceaseless work of the remarkably tall owner Florent Viale. A fan of prolonged maturation of a year and a half, he does not filter, and prefers using oak tonneaux rather than the smaller barriques so as not to obscure terroir and fruit. As a result, this Hermitage is powerful and wholesome but not without elegance. The wines are robust and deep.