Winemaker Notes
Biodynamically farmed, which allows the grapes to be picked earlier than the rest ofthe appellation to preserve freshness and acidity. 60+ year old vines, grown on a rock debris from the river L’Isère, with a small base of clay and limestone. Allows for great draining which is ideal for proper maturation of Marsanne and Roussanne.
Blend: 50% Marsanne, 50% Roussanne.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2020 Crozes Hermitage Mule Blanche (Domaine) comes from a parcel planted equally to Marsanne and Roussanne and was aged in a mix of concrete eggs (two-thirds) and oak barrels (one-third). It boasts a toasty, leesy nose backed by ripe pear and melon notes, then eases into a generous, medium to full-bodied palate that tightens up and turns citrusy on the finish. It should drink well for several years.
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James Suckling
Crushed stones, waxed lemons, apples and pear skins on the nose with some subtle ginger and spice notes. Full-bodied with a textured, mineral palate. Focused.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Equal parts Marsanne and Roussanne, the 2020 Crozes Hermitage Mule Blanche has attractive stone fruits, citrus, and some floral notes, as well as a sense of saltiness on the palate. Medium-bodied, bright, and racy, it’s a mid-weight yet outstanding Crozes to drink over the coming couple of years.
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.