Compared to a Barossa Shiraz, a
Crozes Hermitage is a delicate wee flower.
| WM Morrison
Crozes Hermitage 2015, France (PS11, Morrisons) A SAVOURY and sophisticated Rhone red that scooped three silver medals, this syrah (shiraz) shows plenty of class, with rich blackberry, black cherry and violets driven by firm tannins, pepper and spice, balanced by fine acidity.
| WM Morrison
Crozes Hermitage 2015, France (PS11, Morrisons) SAVOURY and sophisticated Rhone red that scooped three silver medals, this syrah (shiraz) shows plenty of class, with rich blackberry, black cherry and violets driven by firm tannins, pepper and spice, balanced en Barica 2016, Spain (PS12.50, Hennings Wine) BRIGHT and lively with a little bit of oak ageing to show a honeyed roundness to the ripe orchard fruits; there's hints of lemon, orange peel, hazelnut and undertones of vanilla.
Guests will be able to sample dishes such as the atlantic crab and avocado tartar paired with a glass of Belleruche white from the Rhone Valley, veal chop morel sauce and gratin dauphinois, paired with
Crozes Hermitage red, and to finish - French shortbread with lemon and raspberries matched with Billecart Salmon Champagne Rose.
Moving up the scale, Les Fees Brunes is a
Crozes Hermitage with plenty of fragrant black fruits and elegance (widely available at pounds 15.25).
Moving up scale a
Crozes Hermitage is teriffic value, and then onto the most distinguished Gigondas, Vacqueyras, Cornas, St Joseph, and perhaps a Chateauneuf du Pape.
William Grant has also announced four new releases from Ferraton Pere et Fils, from the Rhone Valley: Cotes du Rhone Samorens Rouge 1999 ($9.99),
Crozes Hermitage La Matiniere Blanc 2000 ($14.99),
Crozes Hermitage La Matiniere Rouge 2000 ($14.99), Chateauneuf du Pape Le Parvis 1998 ($28.99).
It also includes much interesting equipment: a twisted array of corkscrews, cooper's tools such as
crozes and adzes, and mysterious instruments including an ebulliometer (which measures alcohol content).
The lesser and much larger appellation of
Crozes Hermitage from vineyards on far gentler, more manageable slopes is seen in our shops (though beware some very thin, tart, 2002s).
Joseph - Syrah grown on the opposite bank of the Rhone from the more famous sites of Hermitage and
Crozes.
There, the reputation of
Crozes Hermitage has been steadily rising over the last 20 years, and the superb co-op at Tain, is as reliable a source of good bottles as you could hope for.
DIRECT Wine Shipments has a 2005
Crozes Hermitage, from Chapoutier, for pounds 10.99 which got 90 points from Wine Spectator.