Crozes-Hermitage Syrah

The nose is the best feature of this Crozes from Graillot. Berry fruit, stemmy with a gamey note. Red and black fruits on the palate with cherries noticeable - barely medium weight. Very tasty but to be critical a little thin at the end - under ripe grapes? More acidic than I was expecting. One of the 1001 wines.

I agree with @Jonathan Wall that compared with the ‘16 vintage, this lacks a bit of refinement. It’s still better than the ‘15, and after hours slow ox it opened gorgeously, tannins softened, and had that lead pencil, blue slate thing again.

Graillot is one of my all time favorites. I bought one ‘17 to test and see how much more of the ‘17 I want to buy. And not much. It’s delicious... but the last few years seem to be evolving away from the unique Alain Graillot style I remember from years past. Still can’t get the ‘95 out of my head... it ruined me.

One of my favorite wines. Structured, elegant and delicious. It compels a purple smile to appear when I compare it to other sought after Rhône wine prices.

lightly volatile but tasty

Always so good

QPR

Reference point Syrah for me and although at the riper end of the Graillot scale still brimming with purity and complexity - 2016

Riper than 15’

Intense floral and elegance on the palate.