Northern Rhône Syrah at its best

 
Wine Cellar - fine wine merchants & cellarers
 
Northern Rhône Syrah at its best Jolette Steyn, 6 May 2021
 

Graillot x Graillot: The kings of Crozes

In the Northern Rhône, few names are as revered as that of Domaine Alain Graillot. Having consistently produced appellation-defining wines since 1985, Alain is considered the undisputed king of Crozes-Hermitage. This is one of the world's most dependable and classical iterations of Syrah.

Maxime Graillot, Alain's son, started his own domaine, Domaine des Lises, in 2003 and in 2008, he took over the running of Domaine Alain Graillot from his father. A string of excellent vintages has proved that the Graillot dynasty is safe in Maxime's hands. Alain is still present 'to tell me what I'm doing wrong,' says Maxime.

Alain Graillot Crozes-Hermitage 2018 – Order online

100% whole-bunch fermentation is key with Alain's organically-farmed, old-vine Syrah. His wines are fragrant, savoury and mineral. For Domaine des Lises, Maxime adopts a subtly different approach. By destemming his grapes, his wines are a touch more modern in style with more fruit power and ripeness. Try this father-and-son duo's wines now, but leave a case in the cellar for up to 2 decades. These are no-brainers for those who love Northern Rhône.

Producers call 2018 a marriage of the richness of 2017 to the energy of 2016. 'For many wine lovers this is the touchstone producer of Crozes-Hermitage, and the 2017s and 2018s definitely perform in the top tier of the appellation,' opines Josh Raynolds from Vinous on Graillot's 2017 and 2018 vintages.

Domaine des Lises Crozes-Hermitage 2017 – Order online

 
Free delivery on orders over R 1,500. View delivery charges.
 

Reply to this email or visit our website to place your order online.

Place your order online

Vinous regards,

Jolette Steyn

Tasting notes

Alain Graillot, Crozes-Hermitage 2018

Inky ruby. Mineral- and spice-accented aromas of ripe dark berries and candied violet show outstanding clarity and lift. At once rich and energetic in the mouth, offering juicy blackberry, bitter cherry and spicecake flavors that slowly turn sweeter on the back half. Shows outstanding clarity on the long, penetrating finish, which features well-judged tannins and lingering floral and spice notes. 2023 - 3031. – Josh Raynolds, Vinous, 93/100

Maxime Graillot was confident that he will bottle a La Guiraude from 2018, but the selection hadn't yet been made at the time of my visit. This barrel of 2018 Crozes Hermitage shows superb aromatics, with hints of black tea accenting cassis and blueberry fruit. Full-bodied, rich and velvety, it reveals some chocolaty notes yet remains remarkably fresh on the finish. 2020 - 2030. – Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate, 91-93/100

Alluring, with alder, juniper and bay leaf aromas already pulling you in before the crushed cherry and plum fruit shows itself. An iron note curls around the finish, pulling everything together and bringing you back for more. Drink now through 2028. – James Molesworth, Wine Spectator, 93/100

Domaine des Lises, Crozes-Hermitage 2017

Inky ruby. Pungent black and blue fruits, licorice and succulent herbs on the spice-accented nose. Shows good depth and breadth on the palate, offering ripe cassis and cherry flavors that take on smoky bacon and violet pastille qualities as the wine opens up. Shows surprising energy for its heft and finishes impressively long and spicy, with dusty tannins adding firming grip. 2022 - 2029. – Josh Raynolds, Vinous, 92/100

More classically built than the 2018, the 2017 Crozes Hermitage features a mélange of cranberries, cherries and raspberries. It's full-bodied, silky and peppery, with a firm but ripe base of tannins and a long, savory finish. Domaine des Lises is the private estate of Maxime Graillot, who also manages his family's domaine, Alain Graillot. It's a fine source for Crozes-Hermitage, both red and white. 2019 - 2026. – Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate, 91/100

What's new?

Wine Cellar, Unit 4 Price's Park, Nelson Road, Observatory, 7925, Cape Town

info@winecellar.co.za  |  www.winecellar.co.za  |  +27 21 448 4105

Office hours: 8am – 5pm (Monday to Friday)
(Closed on public holidays)

twitter facebook wordpress blog instagram youtube

 
 

 
 

This email was sent to *|EMAIL|*
why did I get this?   |   unsubscribe from this list   |   update subscription preferences
*|LIST:ADDRESSLINE|*