Domaine Combier – Crozes Hermitage “Clos des Grives” 2020

Inky ruby. Powerful, mineral-accented cherry and boysenberry scents are complemented by suggestions of exotic spices, candied flowers, vanilla and licorice. Juicy and expansive in the mouth, offering vibrant red and blue fruit preserve, spicecake, olive and violet pastille flavors that become sweeter as the wine opens up. The floral and spice notes repeat strongly on the strikingly long finish, which shows outstanding clarity and velvety, slowly building tannins.

The winery’s top cuvée is from a hedgelined, enclosed vineyard whose soil is rich with red clay and chalk, along with plenty of alluvial stones. The Syrah vines were planted in 1954, and have yields of 35 hl/ha. The upbringing is similar to that of Domaine Combier, apart from the fact that he uses 25% new oak for the cuvée, while the rest goes into oak that has previously seen 1 or 2 wines.