Last of the Hermitage releases, from a vineyard that lies just underneath le Méal, the 2015 Ermitage Les Greffieux is another huge, almost primordial release that tastes like it had just completed fermentation. Inky black in color, with tons of black olive, melted licorice and unctuous levels of black fruit, it should match the 2006 for its concentration, sweet, building tannin and blockbuster finish. Hide this puppy in the cellar for 7-8 years and enjoy over the following 3-4 decades.

Score: 97-100 Robert Parker (RP), The Wine Advocate (WA), December 2016

Very composed, with aromas of sappy, black fruit, dark stones, rich baking spices and a waft of pepper. The palate has an assertive, dense core of rich, black cherries and dark plums, as well as hints of licorice and dark, chocolate-coated orange peel. Fine sheets of tannins. From organically grown grapes. Drink in 2020.

Score: 95 James Suckling (JS), JamesSuckling.com, August 2018

Because the 2015 Ermitage les Greffieux is so approachable and not as forbidding as Chapoutier´s other 2015s, I wonder if I´ve underestimated it? It´s full-bodied and rich in raspberry fruit, there´s an intriguing herbal note and it´s already almost silky in texture rather than being dense and closed. It should provide a couple of decades of drinking pleasure.

The dynamic Michel Chapoutier is a man in continuous motion. It must be difficult for him to stay in one place long enough for me to taste through his exhaustive lineup of Northern Rhône wines, not only those under his own label but also the Ferraton Père et Fils collection, plus joint ventures with chefs Yannick Alleno and Anne-Sophie Pic. Those are listed under their own headings, but the M. Chapoutier reviews are all here, ranging from his entry-level Crozes Hermitage La Petite Ruche all the way up to the various sélections parcellaires from Hermitage (or Ermitage, as it´s spelled on those labels). With all of the various parcel selections, Chapoutier is clearly a great believer in terroir. "In the great terroirs," he said, "the terroir tames the power of the variety." Chapoutier considers 2016 to be "very interesting" for whites in the north, saying, "We had enough yields to avoid overripening." But the real stars this year are his 2015 red wines, several of which flirt with or achieve perfection.

Score: 98 Joe Czerwinski (JC), The Wine Advocate (WA), December 2017

Saturated violet. Highly perfumed aromas of candied dark berries, cola, incense and smoky minerals develop a suave Asian spice nuance as the wine opens up. Silky, expansive black raspberry, boysenberry and floral pastille flavors display an impressive blend of richness and energy thanks to a mineral flourish that builds on the back half. Finishes juicy, sweet and extremely long, displaying lingering, spice-tinged dark fruit qualities and slow-building tannins.

Score: 96 Josh Raynolds (JR), Vinous Media (VM), April 2018