France > Rhône > Crozes-Hermitage
I never do any kind of research before or after the tasting, I'm always far too busy working or relaxing after work, or something else. This time I thought it'd be helpful to read a bit about the region and vintage and how that shaped these wines I tried.
Lets start with the whites, the 2014s.
"The summer was cooler and wetter than many vignerons could have wished for, making for a lot of work in the vineyards and a relatively late ripening season." says the Yapp Brothers.
"Yields are very low and quality is inconsistent" says the Wine Spectator.
And despite that, everyone says it is a good year for white wines. "The whites—Viognier, Marsanne and Rousanne—are showing power and fruit flavours and promise to be complex, fresh and particularly expressive." notes Rhone-Wines.
French Wine World sums it up as "2014 is going to be an excellent vintage for Rhône white wines".
And the wines? Good in general, fresh and textured with plenty of floral notes and stone fruits. Would love to try these again in a couple of years. Fingers crossed...
I never do any kind of research before or after the tasting, I'm always far too busy working or relaxing after work, or something else. This time I thought it'd be helpful to read a bit about the region and vintage and how that shaped these wines I tried.
Lets start with the whites, the 2014s.
"The summer was cooler and wetter than many vignerons could have wished for, making for a lot of work in the vineyards and a relatively late ripening season." says the Yapp Brothers.
"Yields are very low and quality is inconsistent" says the Wine Spectator.
And despite that, everyone says it is a good year for white wines. "The whites—Viognier, Marsanne and Rousanne—are showing power and fruit flavours and promise to be complex, fresh and particularly expressive." notes Rhone-Wines.
French Wine World sums it up as "2014 is going to be an excellent vintage for Rhône white wines".
And the wines? Good in general, fresh and textured with plenty of floral notes and stone fruits. Would love to try these again in a couple of years. Fingers crossed...
Domaine Aléofane Crozes-Hermitage Blanc 2014
Bourboulenc, Roussanne
Nose of peach and white flowers. Melon, apricot, pear and floral notes on the palate; round, medium bodied, enough freshness, balanced and a good finish.
Domaine Les Bruyères Aux Bêtises 2014
Marsanne, Roussanne
Aromas of hay, wheat, pineapple, stone fruits, nuts and apples. Round palate, flavours of ripe stone fruits, pineapples, ripe pear, nutty, and cardamom spice; medium to full bodied, very good length with citrus tones.
Cave de Tain Grand Classique 2014
Marsanne
Ripe stone fruits and pine nuts aromas on the nose. Body is medium, acidity is high; flavours of citrus fruit, melon, grapefruit and mineral tones on palate.
Yann Chave Crozes-Hermitage Blanc 2014
70% Marsanne, 30% Roussanne
Exotic fruit, lime zest, white flowers, peach and stone minerality show on the nose. Medium bodied, medium+ acidity, flavours of melon, papaya, stone fruit, cooking spice (hints of fennel seeds?) on the palate; medium finish.
Cave de Clairmont Classique Blanc 2014
Marsanne
Stone fruits, white flowers, mineral notes on the nose. Round and rich, mineral palate, floral, exotic fruit and citrus notes of grapefruit; high acidity, medium to full bodied, alcohol is quite prominent in palate and has a medium finish.
Domaine du Colombier Crozes-Hermitage Blanc 2014
Marsanne
Peppery, floral, spiced, peachy nose. Medium bodied, high acidity, nicely textured palate; mineral with flavours of melon, peach, cooking spices and flowers with a medium+ finish.
Fayolle Fils & Fille Sens Blanc 2014
60% Marsanne, 40% Roussanne
Very floral nose (geraniums?) and hints of cooking spice. Rich texture, medium to full body, high acidity; flavours of melon, flowers, bitter lemon and mineral notes. Good length as well.
E. Guigal Crozes-Hermitage Blanc 2014
95% Marsanne, 5% Roussanne
White peach, melon and acacia flowers on the nose. Big texture, rich and round palate, medium to full body, medium+ acidity and alcohol with the palate echoing the nose.
Domaine Habrard Classique Blanc 2014
Marsanne
Grapefruit, stone fruits, honey and mushroom hints on the nose. Medium to full bodied, medium acidity and savoury notes on the palate with a medium finish.
Paul Jaboulet Ainé Mule Blanche 2014
50% Marsanne, 50% Roussanne
On the nose citrus, apricots and stone minerality, although it is a bit restrained. On the palate it is balanced, nicely textured and fresh with flavours of orange peel, stone fruit, white flowers and minerality. Good length.
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