Domaine Combier : Cap Nord Blanc 2023

Characteristics and Tasting Notes for Cap Nord Blanc 2023

Tasting notes

Color
With a beautiful pale yellow hue, this white wine is enhanced by greenish highlights and crystalline brilliance.

Nose
The bouquet reveals a lovely mineral complexity. It exudes aromas of spring flowers, acacia and honeysuckle, mingled with notes of candied citrus peel, zest, nectarine and white pepper. Subtle touches of honey, warm stone, almond and white peach round out this rich aromatic palette.

Palate
Full-bodied, round and elegant, the palate is immediately seductive. The fruity core, carried by the ripeness of the berries, offers a fleshy texture perfectly balanced by vibrant acidity. The finish, long and aromatic, ends on delicate bitter notes that stimulate the palate.

Food and wine pairing

This wine pairs ideally with white meats, such as poultry in a creamy sauce, or vegetables in cream. It also goes wonderfully with seafood, such as fine fish, shellfish or scallops with citrus. For a bolder pairing, it can be served with a hanger steak with mushrooms, or with a matured goat cheese.

Service and storage

To fully appreciate this 2023 vintage, it is recommended to serve it at a temperature between 10 and 12°C. This wine can be enjoyed now, but it also has fine aging potential and can continue to evolve in the cellar until around 2033.

Other characteristics

The alcohol content is 13%.

The elegance and minerality of a Crozes-Hermitage white wine

The estate

Founded in 1936 by Camille Combier, Domaine Combier is a key reference in France's Rhône Valley. Located in Pont-de-l'Isère, the estate has distinguished itself through its pioneering spirit, notably under the impetus of Maurice Combier, who converted the vineyard to organic farming as early as 1970. Following the expansion led by Laurent Combier, the estate is now headed by his sons, David and Julien Combier. They tend a vineyard of around 50 hectares, upholding a philosophy respectful of the terroir and a long-standing family tradition.

The vineyard

This cuvée comes from a specific plot located in the northern part of the Crozes-Hermitage appellation, in the Mercurol sector. The vines flourish on a distinctive terroir made up of sandy, well-draining soils resting on a granite bedrock. This type of soil, which retains little water, favors the production of wines imbued with fine minerality. The vineyard is cultivated according to organic farming principles, with manual soil work and meticulous attention given to every vine.

The vintage

The year 2023 was marked by climatic conditions combining a certain warmth with remarkable overall balance. This vintage allowed the berries to reach a lovely concentration while preserving the freshness typical of northern terroirs.

Winemaking and aging

The grapes are harvested entirely by hand, followed by rigorous sorting to retain only berries at optimal ripeness. Winemaking is tailored to each grape variety: the Roussanne ferments and ages in inert containers called WineGlobes to preserve its aromatic purity, while the Marsanne is vinified and aged in traditional oak foudres, imparting gentle, controlled oxidation and structural complexity.

Grape varieties

Marsanne (50%), Roussanne (50%).