”They have vineyards high up in Larnage”, explained Le Mangevins’ Vincent why a certain domaine was noteworthy when we were to visit the Crozes-Hermitage wine fair in April in Mercurol. The winery in question was not Domaine Finot (who apparently also now make wine in Virginia of all places??), but the line stuck with me and I remembered it again when reading the back label of this wine. Crozes-Hermitage is not a small appellation with vineyards both on hillsides and flatlands. There is not a lot of discussion of the terroir and I am yet to meet a person who would claim to be an expert of the appellation. I want to learn more, but after this and tasting the wines of Domaine Vendome I am starting to believe that any fan of Rhône Syrah should really look out for wines coming from Larnage. Here I could have been fooled to believe that it is granite soil but actually it is limestone and clay.
- 2016 Domaine Finot Crozes-Hermitage - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Crozes-Hermitage (4.7.2025)
On opening - at cellar temp - this came off as very light, bony even. However after an hour or so it had filled out nicely and started to really blossom. A massively savory nose with a sauvage edge and notes of crunchy blackberry fruit, granite, charred meat, earth and some VA. On the palate medium bodied and firmly textured with fairly kindly gripping tannins and lip-smackingly juicy acidity. It is a very savory, somewhat chewy style with fantastic brightness and freshness and immensely pretty fruit. Sporting a lowly 12.5% ABV, the drinkability on this wine is second to none. At its early peak right now.
Posted from CellarTracker