Domaine du Colombier : Crozes-Hermitage Domaine 2024

Characteristics and Tasting Notes for the Crozes-Hermitage 2024 Domaine du Colombier

Tasting notes

Colour
The colour reveals a deep, dark hue, typical of red wines made from this grape variety.

Nose
The nose opens with a beautiful saline minerality, intertwined with notes of liquorice, black olives and fresh cherries. Touches of blueberry and a spicy hint of white pepper add further depth to this bouquet.

Palate
Supple and wonderfully fresh, the palate offers a fruit-forward profile dominated by raspberry and cranberry, underscored by notes of black pepper. The tannins, both grippy and chalky, provide structure without any harshness, leading to a digestible and vibrant finish.

Food and wine pairing

This red wine pairs wonderfully with grilled or roasted meats, such as herb-crusted lamb (thyme, rosemary), or roast poultry. It will also beautifully complement dishes rich in umami, such as sautéed wild mushrooms, coq au vin, roasted root vegetables, or a matured cheese like Comté.

Service and storage

For optimal enjoyment of this Crozes-Hermitage 2024, it is recommended to serve it at a temperature of around 15.5°C. Approachable from its youth, this wine can also be cellared and enjoyed until at least 2031.

Other characteristics

This wine stands out for being bottled without fining or filtration, thereby preserving the full authenticity of its aromatic profile and texture.

The authentic and fruity expression of a Crozes-Hermitage wine

The estate

The story of Domaine du Colombier began in 1929, when the family settled on a farm in Mercurol, in the Rhône Valley. For several decades, the grapes were sold to merchants. It was in 1991 that Florent Viale, the current owner and third-generation representative, took over the estate and began the first estate bottlings. Today, at the helm of an 18-hectare vineyard, he continues a family tradition centred on respect for the terroir and sustainable viticulture, establishing the estate as one of the key names within its appellation.

The vineyard

The grapes for this Crozes-Hermitage come from plots located in the commune of Mercurol, not far from the river. The vines are planted at high density on varied soils, composed of granite, clay, limestone, as well as sand and pebbles. The estate favours sustainable farming through integrated pest management, without the use of chemical herbicides. The vines are trained on traditional stakes, and the harvest is carried out by hand to select only the finest berries.

The vintage

The year 2024 benefited from ideal climatic conditions throughout the growing season, allowing for excellent preservation of the grapes' natural acidity while ensuring optimal phenolic and sugar ripeness. These conditions resulted in a particularly fresh, digestible vintage, marked by vibrant fruit expression.

Winemaking and aging

Following manual harvesting, the grapes for this Crozes-Hermitage 2024 are fully destemmed. Fermentation begins spontaneously through indigenous yeasts, with temperatures gradually rising from 20 to 30°C. Maceration lasts an average of three weeks, punctuated by two daily pump-overs. Aging then takes place in cement or concrete tanks to preserve the wine's freshness and purity of fruit.

Grape variety

100% Syrah