Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Good complexity here. Peppery and spicy with an array of mixed berries, cherries and plums. Really bright and upbeat fruit here. The palate has a vibrant, energetic core of dark-spiced, red fruit with a wave of mocha through the finish. Will age well.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Combier's 2016 Crozes Hermitage Clos des Grives comes from a single parcel of 50+-year-old vines in Pont de l'Isère. The oak here is simply breathtaking, ranging from gentle cedar and vanilla through to toasted coconut and baking spices, all supported by ripe cherries on a plush, creamy palate that's expansive without being weighty, then finishes long and supple.
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
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.