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As Josh Raynolds notes, Hermitage’s Last Samurai is making the best wines of his career. That career is bookended by what Faurie calls a ‘disastrous ” 1981 and, in 2015, what may be his finest collection of wines to date. Make no mistake, Faurie is today producing some of the Northern Rhne’s greatest reds, only he does so in such tiny quantities that he remains as close to anonymous as any great winemaker can be these days.

Although he’s in the twilight of his career, Bernard Faurie has no intention of retiring anytime soon. ‘I live with my wines, ” he tells us. While he was speaking metaphorically it’s worth noting that he actually does live with his wines; Faurie’s winery, in fact a tiny garage, is attached to the rear of his house. ‘And besides, what would I do if I retire? ” he goes on. Naturally we offered some words of encouragement: ‘Bernard, what would we do if you retired?! ” We certainly would taste a lot less great Hermitage!

Even taking the hype of the vintage into account Faurie’s ’15s are just mesmerising – pure, toned, graceful. The cherry, as if one was needed, is our first allocation of Faurie’s mythical Hermitage Blanc 2016, since the 2007 vintage. Stay right where you are, Mr. Faurie.

– Importer Note