Award-winning 2012 Delas Freres "Les Bessards" Hermitage

This has lovely layers of crushed fig, boysenberry and plum fruit, mixed with hints of anise, fruitcake and cinnamon. Gorgeous singed spice accents mix with a loamy element on the finish, adding treble and bass notes to the fruit's midrange. Sneakily long, with serious buried grip. (JM)