Vinous (93)

Bright violet. Assertive, spice-accented dark berry, floral pastille and smoky mineral scents show excellent delineation and a hint of olive paste. Sappy and penetrating on the palate, offering energetic boysenberry and black raspberry flavors that deepen and become sweeter with air. Shows a suave interplay of richness and energy and finishes impressively long, with smooth tannins and strong, mineral-driven tenacity.

Vinous (93)

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.

Vinous (93)

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.

Vinous (94)

Opaque ruby. A pungent, deeply perfumed bouquet evokes ripe black and blue fruits, olive paste, potpourri, exotic spices and smoky minerals. Densely packed and concentrated on the palate, offering smoke- and spice-accented blackberry, cassis, floral pastille and fruitcake flavors that show outstanding definition and mineral lift. Finishes smoky, sappy and impressively long, with gripping tannins adding shape to the resonating dark berry and floral notes.

Vinous (94)

Opaque ruby. A pungent, deeply perfumed bouquet evokes ripe black and blue fruits, olive paste, potpourri, exotic spices and smoky minerals. Densely packed and concentrated on the palate, offering smoke- and spice-accented blackberry, cassis, floral pastille and fruitcake flavors that show outstanding definition and mineral lift. Finishes smoky, sappy and impressively long, with gripping tannins adding shape to the resonating dark berry and floral notes.

Vinous (92)

Saturated magenta. Displays expressive red and dark berry, smoked meat, olive and floral qualities on the spice-accented nose. Sappy and penetrating on the palate, offering gently sweet cherry-cola, blackberry and baking spice flavors that show fine detail and a mineral, back-end lift. Finishes very long and subtly chewy, with repeating smokiness, harmonious tannins and strong persistence.

Discover the exquisite allure of Graillot Crozes-Hermitage 2021, a revelation in Syrah influence originating from France's venerable Northern Rhône region. This impeccably structured wine exhibits a velvety richness embodying delectably ripe black fruits harmonised with a hint of peppery spice and restrained oak character, achieved through a year of ageing in old French barrels.

Produced by the lauded Alain Graillot, recognised globally for his unerring commitment to integrity and quality, this wine encapsulates viewing the vineyard as a living organism, attentively nurtured using organic principles. Crafted using the traditional vinification method, each grape is meticulously hand-harvested, ensuring only the highest quality produce frames the soul of this exceptional wine.

The Graillot Crozes-Hermitage 2021 presents a tasteful embodiment of the Graillot family philosophy: creating wines that eloquently express their terroir with remarkable purity and character that only improves with age.

A true portrayal of mastery, the Jean Baptiste Souillard Crozes Hermitage Baties 2021 is the epitome of exquisite wine craftsmanship. Unveiling in the northern Rhône region, this exclusive vintage is lovingly crafted by the eminent French artisan, Jean Baptiste Souillard. Demonstrating remarkable finesse, Souillard employs the traditional vinification methods using 100% Syrah grapes, imparting the wine an elegant mineral complexity.

The hand-harvesting approach nurtures the Sicilian clay and limestone's unique terroir, contributing to its profound aromas and opulent flavours. Savour the harmonious blend of ripe red berries, anise, smoky bacon fat, and black pepper undertones. The silky tannins interlace seamlessly with enchanting notes of dark cocoa and cherries on the palate, embedding an enduring finish.

An ode to Souillard's dedication to purity and harmony, the Jean Baptiste Souillard Crozes Hermitage Baties 2021 stands as a testament to quintessential French wine culture.

Decanter (93)

Powerful, ripe blackberry fruit and compote. Full-bodied, with a lovely sense of freshness and power on the textured palate that displays fresh herbs. This will both age and drink well young. Grown on Kaolin soils in Larnage. All whole bunch. No pigeage, all submerged cap.

Indulge in the exquisite Maxime Graillot Crozes-Hermitage Equis Domaine Des Lises 2016, an enigmatic wine from the renowned Northern Rhône Valley. This French masterpiece beautifully captures the essence of Syrah, masterfully crafted by Maxime Graillot - part of the celebrated Graillot family, famed for their commitment to authenticity and quality. The hand-harvested grapes are de-stemmed and matured in used burgundy barrels, producing a wine of exceptional quality.

The nose is rich with refined black fruits and hints of smokey, spicy notes, leading to a story of vibrant minerality and polished tannins on the palate. An execution in balance, offering fresh acidity and tar-like bitterness that come to a harmonious conclusion. The Maxime Graillot Crozes-Hermitage Equis Domaine Des Lises 2016 offers a sublime journey for sophisticated palates, making it a must for lovers of robust yet elegant Syrah. Ideal for cellaring or immediate enjoyment, let this wine make a statement at your dining table.

Immerse yourself in the opulence of Maxime Graillot Crozes-Hermitage Equis Domaine Des Lises 2018, a fine wine of remarkable quality unrivalled in its balance and depth. Produced in the esteemed Crozes-Hermitage region on the Rhône's left bank, this syrah wine is the legacy of revered producer Maxime Graillot. The nurturing of low-yielding old vines and stringent hand-harvesting methods ensure a meticulously crafted wine. With emphasis on biodynamic practices, each bottle encapsulates the pure essence of its terrain.

Echoing the rich mineral complexity of its place of origin, Maxime Graillot Crozes-Hermitage Equis Domaine Des Lises 2018 boasts a characteristically dark fruit palate, layered with stimulating accents of adventuresome spice. Its intense aromas of blackcurrant and potent earthiness intertwine beautifully with abundant tannins, providing a remarkably persistent finish. The perfect accompaniment to robust meat dishes, this compelling fine wine transcends traditional expectations.

Wine Advocate (94)

Bearing more than a passing resemblance to an actual Hermitage, the 2017 Crozes Hermitage Domaine de Roure comes from granitic soils, and it comes across as darker, more concentrated and sturdier than Jaboulet's other Crozes bottlings. Cassis and black olive notes abound in this full-bodied, structured wine, which finishes long and velvety, picking up hints of baking spices along the way.

Vinous (94)

Deep magenta. A highly perfumed bouquet evokes ripe red and blue fruits, potpourri and licorice, and a smoky mineral accent builds in the glass. Appealingly sweet and penetrating on the palate, offering juicy dark fruit preserve and floral pastille flavors that are brightened by a snap of juicy acidity and a building, spicy nuance. Clings with impressive tenacity on the gently tannic finish, leaving behind Chambord and exotic spice notes.

Vinous (91+)

Deep ruby. Very ripe and warm on the nose, but not pruney or over the top. A big, round wine with lush dark berry and cherry compote flavors and a serious, chewy texture. A bit youthfully inexpressive today but the power and concentration of the material are obvious. Notes of espresso and candied licorice emerged with aeration. Frederic Jaboulet noted that production was down from a normal 20,000 cases to 7,000.

Wine Advocate (93)

The 2010 Crozes-Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert, which I raved about last year, is slightly better than their brilliant 2009. It boasts a dense purple color along with a beautiful perfume of camphor, licorice, forest floor, black currants and Christmas fruitcake. With tremendous intensity, full body and supple tannins, it should drink well for 10-15 years, perhaps longer where well-stored. This cuvee is always one of the best buys in the Northern Rhone.

Vinous (94)

Inky ruby. Suave, mineral-accented scents of ripe blueberry, black currant and Indian spices, along with a slowly emerging floral component. Plush, broad and deeply concentrated, displaying black and blue fruit, licorice and mocha flavors that are energized by an intense, peppery overtone. Finishes extremely long, fleshy and sweet, delivering intense mineral thrust, a subtle cracked pepper nuance and youthful, building tannins.

Vinous (94)

Inky ruby. Suave, mineral-accented scents of ripe blueberry, black currant and Indian spices, along with a slowly emerging floral component. Plush, broad and deeply concentrated, displaying black and blue fruit, licorice and mocha flavors that are energized by an intense, peppery overtone. Finishes extremely long, fleshy and sweet, delivering intense mineral thrust, a subtle cracked pepper nuance and youthful, building tannins.

Jeb Dunnuck (94)

The 2016 Crozes Hermitage Domaine De Thalabert offers a rocking (and classic) bouquet of ripe black fruits intermixed with notions new saddle leather, pepper, garrigue, and hints of bacon fat. This ripe, medium to full-bodied, silky wine has remarkable purity, is already complex, and finishes with serious length. Drink it over the coming 10-15 years.

Jeb Dunnuck (94)

This terroir always delivers a wild, opulent, gamey style of wine, and the 2017 Crozes-Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert doesn’t disappoint. Loads of chocolaty black fruits, ground pepper, truffle, and smoked game, as well as a hint of black olives, emerge from the glass, and it’s medium to full-bodied, has a rocking texture, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It’s a classic example of this wine and terroir. Drink it over the coming 15 years or so.

Wine Advocate (93-95)

Although the fruit sourcing has changed from the old days, the 2018 Crozes Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert remains a solid offering in the Jaboulet lineup. Violets accent blackberries and plums on the nose, while the palate is full-bodied, lush and velvety, underscored by doses of salinity and licorice on the lengthy finish.

Matthew Jukes (18+)

Following on from the terrific 2018 vintage, this is another exuberant wine with an inky dark hue and masses of swirling, black fruit notes. This is certainly the most exotically perfumed Thalabert I can remember and this reflects the unique fruit concentration and ripeness found in this vintage. Once you taste this wine you see that it is not all about the luxuriously appointed nose because the palate is packed with spice and tension and the finish is positively electric. In terms of accessibility and also potential, this wine is a conundrum – how can something so young and attractive also seem so compact and age-worthy? This is the key to all of Jaboulet’s 2019s. The exquisite balance between ravishing fruit and refreshing, robust tannins is mesmerising. This is a stupendous Thalabert and I think it is a notch up on the brilliant 2018.

Matthew Jukes (18+)

Yet another beautiful 2020, Thalabert is deep, dark and brooding in this vintage, and it has an almost Italianate liquorice and black-fruited theme underpinning its Syrah characters. This makes it an indulgent treat, and the palate is more velvety and forward than any young Thalabert I have tasted. In addition, it has the stuffing to age well, too. What more could you ask for?

Allow us to introduce the masterful Rene-Jean Dard & Francios Ribo Crozes-Hermitage Pe de Loup Blanc 2015. This exceptional white wine originates from the northern Rhône region of France, created from 100% marsanne grapes, well-known for their deep colour and profound depth. Forged by the dynamic duo of Rene-Jean Dard and Francios Ribo, the distinctive terroir of Crozes-Hermitage imparts a mineral-rich elegance upon this highly regarded vintage.

This wine carefully pays homage to the traditions of the Crozes-Hermitage region, embodying natural winemaking principles and minimal intervention methods to exude a pure, expressive character. A meticulously composed wine, the Rene-Jean Dard & Francios Ribo Crozes-Hermitage Pe de Loup Blanc 2015 witnesses slow fermentation and ageing in oak, resulting in a harmonious balance of acidity and fruit.

On the palate, it presents an enchanting array of ripe, yellow fruits, almonds, and subtle honeyed notes mingling with a creamy texture and a lingering, mineral-driven finish. The excellence of Rene-Jean Dard & Francios Ribo in every glass.