The Hermitage Les Chirats de St-Christophe is virtually black in the glass with a narrow purple water edge. On the nose, the wine smells of blackberries, black cherries, toast, black pepper and mint chocolate. On the palate, it is powerful at the same time, filling the palate but soft. It is no secret that all Hermitage wines gain in complexity as they age in the bottle and, once ripe, are exceptionally noble accompaniments.