Le Mazel Crozes-Hermitage AOC Syrah

Exactly in the zone. Gorgeous nose of lavender, wild mint, Herbes de Provence, grilled meat, bacon, blood, granite and blackberry fruit. This has become fully mature but not old, with that perfect mid-term aging window where the fruit is still alive and the savory Rhône complexity has arrived. Palate is juicy, sappy and energetic, with dark fruit, meat, smoke, granite and real structure. Tannins gained a little grip with air, but the fruit kept winning. Beautifully Crozes, but if blinded, many would guess elite Saint-Joseph. Drinking at apogee, and honestly could still go longer. 9.4, flirting hard with 9.5.

Day two. Nose is mintier, wilder, more sauvage. Still juicy, clean, drinkable, and delicious, with a long finish and real fruit remaining, but it has lost a little clarity and precision from day one. Not collapsed at all, just slightly less vivid. Still absolutely something I’d drink happily.

So classy and drinking so well. Fresh, energetic and velvety tannins but wonderful. Crystalline purity.

Very solid crozes. Blue fruit, a little smoke and consommé. Not my favorite at first but so much material and some really seductive layers of fruit revealing themselves on day 3-4.

Best value Crozes of all time. Meaty, peppery, like way peppery, with herbs and lavender and deep blackberry as well. Very vibrant and on point nose. Even refined. Palate is mega juicy and so clean with gorgeous blackberry fruit. Fresh and energetic and so pure. This is an insane value. Velvety and sweet tannins. Stunning value.

In the zone. Tarkovsky would approve. Stunning aromas of wet earth, dark black fruits, some red berry, some herbs and lovely granite. Superb clarity. Singing! Palate is ungodly fresh and lush with wonderful acids, grippy fruit and lush, sweet and velvety tannins. Wow. Amazing purity and depth. Wonderful. Just so well made .

Gorgeous nose mixed with blackberry, granite, blueberries and spice. Also feral and gamey. Smells so fresh and energetic. Nose jumps out and has such a nice blend of fruit and granite. Wow, what energy and freshness. So clean and pure with black and red berry fruits and gorgeous purity. Finish is longer than it should be. Velvety and ripe tannins and such cleansing acids. Terrific balance and texture. So good.

Hugely and deeply fruited nose. Blackberry, black cherry, granite, some olive, smoke and game. Very aromatic. As this cuvee always is. Juicy and complex, so elegant and pure. Dazzling purity. So elegant. Wow. Amazing meatiness on the palate. Really wonderful. Juicy and ripe tannins. Loosey goosey texture. Really really impressive.

Ridiculous value. This Crozes is very fragrant with smoky crushed rock, and hint of warm blood, baking spices, and ripe blackberry. Mouthfilling and savory, it’s got great balance and very nice length. I hope I have more in my cellar!

2016 will go down as a very overlooked vintage. It should not be. Beautiful and very pure nose of crushed granite and deep dark berry fruit. Grilled meats and herbs. So pretty. Smokey and floral as well. Palate has terrific richness and wonderful purity while also giving off a smokey bbq inner mouth aromas and loads of white pepper on the finish. Some structure to burn and will last 5-8 more years with improvement, but drinking well now.

Beautiful and pure, dark berried, minerally, sanguine and delicious.