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Crozes Hermitage

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Crozes-Hermitage Wine

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

Description of the Crozes-Hermitage Wine

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

Crozes-Hermitage Red Wine

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

Aromas of forest floor 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, this red Crozes-Hermitage 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. As for its texture, it is rich yet balanced. The longer it ages, the more it will develop balance and length. This wine has low acidity and is highly prized for its freshness.

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

The Origins of Crozes-Hermitage Wine

Crozes-Hermitage wine is produced under the French Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) of the same name.

The vineyard of Crozes-Hermitage spans 11 municipalities 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 appellations in the Rhône Valley recognized by a local A.O.C. in 1937. The Crozes-Hermitage is not as old as that of Hermitage; it has developed relatively recently in its southern part, which was formerly devoted to fruit farming. 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 that extend 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 enjoys a south-facing exposure on the hillsides and is swept by the Mistral.

Syrah is the primary grape variety for red Crozes-Hermitage wines, which may be 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 offerings from houses such as M. Chapoutier, E. Guigal, and Delas Frères. Other estates also produce 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