Domaine Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Maison Bleue 2015

A new cuvée that's replacing the Petit Chapelle, the 2015 Hermitage La Maison Bleue comes from grapes on the eastern side of the appellation, which is more limestone, clay, and sedimentary soils. Brought up in 20% new oak (which is the same for all the reds), it offers a rich, opulent, incredibly sexy style as well as full-bodied notes of black raspberry, blackberry jam, toasted bread, and spice. With tons of sweet fruit, no hard edges, and a great finish, it's a much more in your face, pedal-to-the-metal effort compared to the more structured La Chapelle.

Opaque purple. Powerful, highly complex aromas of red/blue fruit preserves, licorice, olive paste and potpourri carry a sexy floral overtone. Coats the palate with intense black and blue fruit and spicecake flavors; a sappy violet pastille nuance gains strength with air and lends an exotic touch. Velvety, even tannins shape an impressively long, chewy, mineral-accented finish that shows outstanding power and spicy thrust.