Crozes Hermitage

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Crozes-Hermitage wine

If you're a wine enthusiast, you've probably already heard of the Crozes-Hermitage wineUnlike Hermitage, it has some very appealing qualities. It is intoxicating, supple, light, elegant, not overly acidic, and pleasantly lingering. Here is everything you need to know about this wine.

Description of the Crozes-Hermitage wine

Crozes-Hermitage is a wine highly prized by wine enthusiasts. There are two varieties: red and white. Each has its own distinctive characteristics.

Crozes-Hermitage red wine

Crozes-Hermitage red winepossesses a truly exquisite charm. Its deep red hue is reminiscent of ripe Burlat cherries. On the nose, delicate aromas of red and black fruits and violets stand out.

Hints of undergrowth and spices such as cinnamon and licorice are also present. Over time, the smoky and toasted aromas evolve into a complex bouquet ranging from candied fruit to leather, with pronounced peppery notes. On the palate, the Crozes-Hermitage red wine offers a round, supple tannic structure with a focus on fruit. It is less powerful than Hermitage but possesses body, depth, and elegance.

White Crozes-Hermitage

Unlike Crozes-Hermitage red wine, the white variety has a lighter color—a golden yellow. In terms of texture, it is rich yet balanced. The longer it ages, the more it develops balance and length. This wine has low acidity and is highly prized for its freshness.

Its aromatic profile is rich and intoxicating, much like that of red wine. It features distinct notes of white flowers (acacia, linden, honeysuckle), dried fruits (almond, hazelnut), and yellow and white fruits (peach, apricot, quince), sometimes with hints of honey or wax.

The origins of Crozes-Hermitage wine

Crozes-Hermitage wine comes from the French Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée of the same name.

The vineyards of Crozes-Hermitage spans 11 communes in the Drôme department, all located on the left bank of the Rhône: Crozes-Hermitage, Serves-sur-Rhône, Erôme, Gervans, Larnage, Tain-l’Hermitage, Mercurol, Chanos-Cunon, La Roche-de-Glun, Beaumont-Monteux, and Pont-de-l’Isère. It is one of the 15 wines of the Rhône Valley designated by a local A.O.C. in 1937. The Crozes-Hermitage is less ancient than that of Hermitage; it has developed relatively recently in its southern part, which was formerly devoted to fruit cultivation. The vineyards cover an area of approximately 1,430 hectares, with an annual production of over 60,500 hectoliters, corresponding to an average yield of 42 hectoliters per hectare. Crozes-Hermitage is the largest vineyard among the northern appellations.

To the north, the terroir is situated on granite-rich slopes extending from those of Hermitage; to the south, the soils consist of fluvio-glacial alluvium and terraces of rounded Rhône pebbles or loess. The Crozes-Hermitage benefits from a south-facing exposure on the hillsides and is swept by the Mistral.

Syrah is the primary grape variety for Crozes-Hermitage red wines, potentially blended with up to 15% Marsanne or Roussanne. The white wines are made from Marsanne and Roussanne. Among the top-quality wines in this appellation are the must-try estates of M. Chapoutier and E. Guigal, as well as Delas Frères. Other estates also offer Crozes-Hermitage wines worth discovering, such as the Tardieu-Laurent and Ferraton Père et Fils estates.

For more information, visit the website at Crozes Hermitage