Winemaker Notes
Grapes are pressed upon arrival at the winery. After settling, about 50% of the must is fermented in barrel (one-year-old oak from top Burgundy producers such as Sauzet). The other 50% is given a long, cool fermentation in stainless steel tanks. The wine avoids malolactic to preserve the acidity and freshness.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
A distinctive style, with earthy tugs of truffle and beeswax atop lemon cream and pear. Salty and savory through the medium-bodied finish, marked by hints of green almond, herbs and paraffin. Marsanne and Roussanne.
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Vinous
Mixing 80% Marsanne with 20% Roussanne from over 40-year-old vines growing on sandy soils, the 2023 Crozes-Hermitage Blanc launches with zesty lemon flesh, yellow apple, white flowers and a slice of pear. Medium-bodied and sapid, the 2023 leaves the spotlight with phenolic bitterness on the nuanced finish.
Full-bodied and flavorful, white Rhône blends originate from France’s Rhône Valley. Today these blends are also becoming popular in other regions. Typically some combination of Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier form the basis of a white Rhône blend with varying degrees of flexibility depending on the exact appellation. Somm Secret—In the Northern Rhône, blends of Marsanne and Roussanne are common but the south retains more variety. Marsanne, Roussanne as well as Bourboulenc, Clairette, Picpoul and Ugni Blanc are typical.
Crozes-Hermitage is Northern Rhone’s largest appellation, surrounding the steep granite faces of Hermitage to its north and south. Here the rolling vineyards are less extreme and its soils, rich in clay-limestone and alluvial matter, produce Syrahs that range from fruity and charming to lush and seductive. The Syrahs of Crozes-Hermitage have more mass than those from St. Joseph but are less intense than those from Hermitage. While many are intended for early consumption, some of the best Syrahs from Crozes-Hermitage will age beautifully for 5-10 years.
Up to 15% of white grapes may theoretically be added to red Crozes at the time of fermentation but whether this is done or not depends on the decision of the winemaker. The best Crozes-Hermitage Syrahs will be fleshy with black fruit (currant, blackberry and black cherry) and bay leaf qualities, notes of tar and stone, and a well-concentrated finish of smooth tannins.
About a tenth of the wine produced in Crozes-Hermitage is white, primarily composed of Marsanne supplemented by smaller amounts of Roussanne.