Some of the most affordable Syrah of excellent quality in the world comes from the finest producers of red Crozes-Hermitage in the Northern Rhone. Yes, there are lesser Crozes but I am talking the likes of Graillot, Delas-Freres, Belle, Chapoutier, Jaboulet, and Colombier to name a few. I pulled corks on two wines to show some friends “why” this past weekend and raised more than a few eyebrows. I watched the rest of these bottles walk out the door with a smiling request to work on more Rhone for them (I never seem to do as well on these “trades”). Crozes-Hermitage sits on the eastern bank of the Rhone enveloping Hermitage. As expected, Crozes is much the little brother to Hermitage but shows the classic medium to full body of Syrah with smoky, peppery, cassis, black cherry, plums, and the signature aroma of herbes de Provence. Pair Crozes with fuller bodied meat dishes so that the wine doesn’t overpower your meal.
2003 Delas Freres Crozes-Hermitage le Clos $29Opaque color, more fruit driven with gobs of black cherries, plum, earth, lavender and rosemary. Very good concentration and mid-palate with moderate structure.
2005 Alain Graillot Crozes-Hermitage $27Opaque color, classic Graillot; this wine is bulletproof. I double decanted (into the decanter and back into the bottle) the day before. This is a very complete and powerful wine and it’s just a baby. Smoke, leather, minerals, scrub, spice, jerky, and cassis. Very compact on the palate. Needs time.
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