Wines from Crozes Hermitage

Crozes-Hermitage is an appellation for both red and white wines and lies around the more famous and higher quality Hermitage region. The entire appellation covers around 1,300 hectares, making it the largest wine appellation in the Northern Rhone. The soils tend to be more fertile as they slope away from the granite outcrop of Hermitage, the clay, silica and sandy soils being deeper and capable of producing larger yields than Hermitage. The whites use Marsanne and Roussanne, and are normally dry, medium bodied with good crisp acidity and flavours of peach, flowers, wet stones and some cereal notes. The red wines use the noble Syrah grape and exhibit dark fruits, smoky undertones of cracked peppercorn, roast coffee, leather and earthy flavours - all generous and warming. These reds can be cellared for 3-10 years depending on the grower.