From 50-year-old vines and brought up all in French oak (a percentage of which are new), the 550-case 2013 Crozes Hermitage Vieilles Vignes sports a deep ruby, mostly opaque color to go with classic, gamy northern Rhone notes of olive tapenade, peppery herbs, earth and smoked dark fruits. A medium to full-bodied, rich, chunky and concentrated 2013 (especially in the vintage), it has bright acidity, a full and rich mid-palate, and enough tannin to warrant short term cellaring.