Organic and biodynamic-practicing Crozes-Hermitage estate with the Clos des Grives single-vineyard Syrah as its standout red.
Signature wines: combier-crozes-clos-des-grives
Tip: Among the most reliable value-for-quality bottlings in the Northern Rhone; biodynamic farming at accessible prices.
Address: Route de Larnage, 26600 Pont-de-l'Isere, France, Rhone Valley
Alain Graillot elevated the Crozes-Hermitage appellation's reputation for serious Syrah beginning in 1985; La Guiraude is the old-vine prestige cuvee.
Tasting: Visits by appointment at the domaine
Signature wines: graillot-crozes-hermitage-rouge, graillot-crozes-hermitage-la-guiraude
Tip: The straightforward Crozes rouge is one of the best value reds in the Northern Rhone.
Larnage Crozes-Hermitage estate with parcels on the Hermitage hill, known for purity of fruit and mineral expression.
Tasting: By appointment at the domaine in Larnage
Signature wines: belle-crozes-hermitage-les-pierrelles, belle-crozes-hermitage-cuvee-louis-belle
Maxime Graillot's own domaine in Mercurol. Old-vine Crozes-Hermitage parcels farmed organically with a site-specific focus.
Tasting: By appointment at the domaine
Signature wines: maxime-graillot-crozes-les-lises
Tip: A producer to follow; each vintage shows increasing terroir precision and elegance.
Alain Graillot elevated the Crozes-Hermitage appellation's reputation for serious Syrah beginning in 1985; La Guiraude is the old-vine prestige cuvee.
Tasting: Visits by appointment at the domaine
Signature wines: graillot-crozes-hermitage-rouge, graillot-crozes-hermitage-la-guiraude
Tip: The straightforward Crozes rouge is one of the best value reds in the Northern Rhone.
Larnage Crozes-Hermitage estate with parcels on the Hermitage hill, known for purity of fruit and mineral expression.
Tasting: By appointment at the domaine in Larnage
Signature wines: belle-crozes-hermitage-les-pierrelles, belle-crozes-hermitage-cuvee-louis-belle
Mauves reference estate for Saint-Joseph, run by brothers Pierre and Jean Gonon on old-vine granite parcels; one of the most elegant Saint-Josephs made.
Tasting: By appointment only at the estate in Mauves
Signature wines: gonon-saint-joseph-rouge, gonon-saint-joseph-blanc
Tip: Wines sell out quickly. The Saint-Joseph blanc from Marsanne and Roussanne is a rare and beautiful white.
Chavanay family domaine across Condrieu and Saint-Joseph, producing clean, precise Viognier and Syrah with organic farming.
Tasting: By appointment at the domaine
Signature wines: faury-saint-joseph-rouge, faury-condrieu
Maxime Graillot's own domaine in Mercurol. Old-vine Crozes-Hermitage parcels farmed organically with a site-specific focus.
Tasting: By appointment at the domaine
Signature wines: maxime-graillot-crozes-les-lises
Tip: A producer to follow; each vintage shows increasing terroir precision and elegance.
The Perrin family estate at Courthezon, one of the oldest and most biologically farmed CdP properties, using all 13 permitted varieties and producing the benchmark Roussanne Vieilles Vignes blanc.
Tasting: Visits and tastings by appointment at the estate; wine shop on site
Signature wines: beaucastel-chateauneuf-rouge, beaucastel-roussanne-vieilles-vignes, beaucastel-hommage-a-jacques-perrin
Tip: The Hommage a Jacques Perrin is the prestige red; the Roussanne Vieilles Vignes white is the estate's flagship white wine.
