Domaine Combier : Clos des Grives 2024

Characteristics and tasting tips for the Clos des Grives 2024 from Domaine Combier

Food and wine pairing

This Clos des Grives is an ideal partner for grilled or roasted red meats such as beef or veal, as well as game birds and venison. It also pairs well with dishes seasoned with black olives or confit tomatoes, and finds a fine echo in mature hard or blue-veined cheeses.

A red Crozes-Hermitage from the old Syrah vines of Clos des Grives

The estate

Founded in 1989 in Pont-de-l'Isère, in the Rhône Valley, Domaine Combier established itself as an independent estate when Laurent Combier left the Tain-l'Hermitage cooperative to vinify and bottle his own production. Today run by Laurent Combier and his sons Julien and David, the estate farms around 25 to 30 hectares of vines, mainly in the Crozes-Hermitage appellation, cultivated organically since the late 1960s. This long-standing commitment to organic practices has shaped an identity founded on respect for the terroir and precision in winemaking.

The vineyard

This Clos des Grives comes from a 9.5-hectare plot, enclosed by hedges of shrubs, located on the Chassis plateau, in the south of the Crozes-Hermitage appellation. The clay-limestone soils, covered with large rounded pebbles, offer excellent drainage and release the heat accumulated during the day. The oldest Syrah vines on this plot were planted in 1952 and have been farmed organically since the late 1960s, in a constant search for balance between concentration and freshness.

Vinification and ageing

The harvest is carried out by hand, followed by complete destemming of the grapes. Fermentation takes place in vats, followed by ageing in barrels, which refines the texture and harmoniously integrates the oak into the richness of the old vines. A further period of bottle ageing precedes release to the market.

Grape variety

This Clos des Grives is made from 100% Syrah, from old vines planted in 1952 on the Clos des Grives plot.