The "cru" wine of Northern Rhone -- Cave de Tain, largest co-operative winery at Northern Rhone

Cave de Tain lies at the foot of the Hermitage hillside.  At the heart of historic northern Rhone vineyards, Cave de Tain produces and markets 5 "cru" wines and single varietal Vins de Pays from over 1000 hecatures of vines (appellations Hermitage, Crozes Hermitage, Saint Joseph, Cornas and St. Peray), making the leading producer of "cru" wines in northern Rhone. 

Cave de Tain classifies its wine in 4 series :

• The Varietal Wine -- easy drinking wine for pleasure and discovery of Northern Rhone grape varieties.  (e.g. Syrah VDP)
• The Great Classics -- made according to Northern Rhone traditions and reflecting the specific terroir.  (St. Peray, Crozes Hermitage, St. Joseph, Cornas, Hermitage AOC) 
• Plot Selection Wine -- cultivated with greatest care on exceptional "terroirs".  Vinified separately, these wines are for connosieur and express the very best of each appellation.  They are well suited for aging.  (E.g. Gambert de Loche of Hermitage, Au Coeur Dies Siecles of Hermitage Blanc).  
• Rare Wine --  produced from exceptional vineyards and in very small quantities, these wine represent both great vintages (e.g. Hermitage Rouge Epsilon, Hermitage Blanc Vin de Paille)

Robert Parker 

Hermitage Rouge Epsilon 2010  (RP:  98 pts):

"This cooperative located on the outskirts of the village of Tain l'Hermitage is one of France's finest coops, producing some of the Northern Rhone's most astoning wines...I was knocked out by the quality."...Robert Parker, Wine Advocate 2012.

Hermitage Rouge 1998 (JR: 18.5 pts):

"Very deep, majestic crimson. Extremely solid, masculine nose. Very rich and vibrato. So rich and spicy it is almost like Châteauneuf! A lovely drink with a beginning, middle and end to the experience. Positively glows. Very long. "...Jancis Robinson, 2008.