2003 Hermitage Monier de la Sizeranne

Bright red. Sweet red berries dominate the nose, with a note of raspberry preserves building and expanding with air. A fruit bomb of an Hermitage, showing a lush texture and no meaty qualities. The sweet, silky finish offers noteworthy length.

Ruby-red. Superripe but aromatic nose shows a strong spiciness. Sweet, lush and dense; deeper than most of the foregoing 2003 samples. This has more middle to support its significant tannic clout. Finishes long, powerful and oaky.

The outstanding, dense ruby/purple-tinged 2003 Ermitage La Sizeranne offers sweet cassis fruit along with graphite and spicy oak. Ripe and medium to full-bodied with low acidity, abundant tannin, and a long, heady finish, it should be cellared for 2-3 years, and consumed over the following 15. Feb 2006, www.robertparker.com