More Superb Syrah from the Northern Rhone - 2012 Combier Crozes Hermitage I have been selling the wines from this terrific small Domaine for the better part of two decades, and I absolutely love their balanced, classical expression of Northern Rhone Syrah. Perfumed and elegant, Combier's Crozes always has lovely cassis, violet and floral notes, hints of black olive and black pepper - balanced and silky on the palate, pure and detailed. In 2012 there is another layer to the wine - a darker fruit, hints of espresso and even cocoa powder, bringing something extra to the wine in this vintage without sacrificing the pure fine style I love. It is perfect with anything from a roasted chicken with herbs, roast loin of pork, game birds, or duck breast. Soft enough to drink now, but will develop nicely for 3-5 years or so. Wine arrives Wednesday. Cheers! Crozes-Hermitage 2012 - Domaine Combier - $31.50 on sale - $29.99 on 12 or more To Order: Reply to this email, call us at 908.953.0900 or click on the link below for our secure website. Crozes Hermitage lies east/southeast of the Hermitage hill, sweeping across a mix of soils and micro-climates that can definitely affect the style of the wines here. They can be soft and fruity, from light soils and cooler clime, deep and dark from more granitic soils near Hermitage. The Combiers family’s Rhone roots date back to 1936 when Laurent’s grandfather came down from the Ardeche and bought a property with three hectares under vine and four of Apricots. In the 1950’s Laurent’s parents established themselves as farmers in the neighboring district of Point de l’Isere. They have seen the ups and downs of farming, and depending on what crops were more financially rewarding they have variously spent more energy on apricots or grapes. In the late 1980's or early 1990's Laurent went to viticulture and oenology school and decided that wine would be a better path as foreign growers were putting price pressure on fruit, and wine prices were firming as demand grew for Rhone wines. Up until then, the family sold their grapes to the Co-operative de Tain, and his parents signed on without hesitation. They now have 25 hectares of vines, plus 25 acres of fruit trees. In 2010 they celebrated 40 years of organic farming, one of the earlier small farms to go back to natural methods. Combier’s vine holdings are situated in both terroirs of the appellation, with vines in the original AOC in the northern granitic districts of Gervans and Servres du Rhone. Here the Syrah is planted on well drained granite soils. The balance of vines are in the southern end, added as an extension to the original AOC in 1952. This was mainly dry scrub-land prior to the expansion, and the soils and climate are very different. Warmer and flatter, with the river Isere bounding the region to the south and east, the Chassis plateau is mainly chalky limestone soils cover with smooth pebbles. They also produce a wine called Clos des Grives (2012 not yet released) from 9.5 ha of vines planted in the southern part of the AOC, surrounded a hedge of bushes that attract natural wildlife and bio diversity that is part of the organic and interconnected philosophy practiced by Combier. A four hectare section was planted by Laurent's Grandfather in 1952. In the 1990’s Laurent installed stainless steel for its practical and hygienic qualities. In 1999 he added concrete amphorae for their heat retention properties and the way lees and wine circulate an interact in fermentation and maceration accentuating the finesse and proper tannin extraction. More concrete vats were added as they allow more gentle and controlled cap punch downs and oxygen uptake during fermentation. Oak barrels are also used, and a mix of all these is employed depending on a number of factors. |
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