Finot, Thomas 2022 Crozes-Hermitage "Cuvee Claude"

.Thomas Finot, who is resurrecting forgotten vineyards and varieties in the Isère, is also making brilliant wines from his tiny family vineyard in Crozes-Hermitage. He has 1.8 hectare of old Syrah vines in Larnage on a hillside with granite and limestone subsoils under interesting soils of white clay (kaolin). It's a great terroir, and the Cuvée Claude, homage to Thomas' uncle, is a superb, somewhat atypical Crozes. The 2022 Cuvee Claude shows a deep black/red color and elegant aromas of black cherry and blackberry with hints of pepper and oak. The palate is well structured with firm tannins under elegant red and black fruits, mint, citrus, earth and mineral flavors. Please give this serious Crôzes-Hermitage a long decant, or open the night before if drinking now. This will really sing after some time in the cellar, best 2030 - 2040