2019 Crozes Hermitage Clos des Grives
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Tasting notes
Lurid violet color. Highly expressive, spice- and mineral-tinged dark fruit and floral qualities on the assertively perfumed nose, along with hints of smokiness and pipe tobacco. Vibrant black raspberry, bitter cherry and violet pastille flavors slowly deepen and turn sweeter as the wine opens up. Shows outstanding clarity and mineral thrust on the impressively long, gently tannic finish, which leaves resonating cherry preserve and floral notes behind. 50% new oak.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Josh Raynolds
More reviews and scores
It's always fun to compare the Cap Nord and the Clos des Grives, as they come from different regions and are dramatically different. The 2019 Crozes-Hermitage Clos Des Grives reveals a vivid purple/plum color as well as more southern inspired notes of red and blue fruits pepper herbs, garrigue, and violets, and it's round, full-bodied, plush, and incredibly sexy on the palate, with sweet tannins. Already hard to resist, it’s a gem of a Crozes to drink any time over the coming decade.
The barrel-aged 2019 Crozes Hermitage Clos des Grives is super ripe and laden with blackberry fruit, but it doesn't come across as cooked or jammy. It is full-bodied, dense and concentrated, with a rich, velvety texture and a long, silky finish tinged with vanilla, a super example of Crozes for drinking over the rest of the decade—and perhaps longer.