2018 Crozes Hermitage Le Grand Courtil
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Tasting notes
A bit cedary on the nose, the 2018 Crozes-Ermitage Le Grand Courtil packs in plenty of dark fruit flavors in behind the oak, offering notes of baked plum and blackberries, plus more savory hints of black olives and licorice. Full-bodied and supple, this velvety-textured offering can be drunk now or anytime over the next decade.
Critic scores
Average Score
Richard Hemming MW, jancisrobinson.com
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
Deep purple. Spice-tinged dark berries, potpourri, olive paste and smoky bacon on the highly perfumed nose. Juicy, penetrating and appealingly sweet, offering densely packed blueberry, cherry preserve and candied violet flavors that are firmed by a spine of juicy acidity. Gently chewy tannins add grip to an impressively persistent, mineral- and spice-accented finish that strongly repeats the floral and olive note. (15% new oak)
The flagship from Crozes is the 2018 Crozes-Ermitage Le Grand Courtil, which will spend 12-14 months in barrel before bottling. Rocking notes of crème de cassis, spring flowers, olives, and pepper all emerge from the glass, and it's medium to full-bodied, has a kiss of background oak, ripe yet present tannins, and a great finish. It's a stunning, balanced, pure Crozes Hermitage that makes the most of the vintage. This tiny Northern Rhône estate continues to produce a colossal lineup of wines. While they pull from top estate terroirs around Hermitage and the Northern Rhône, they also have a large négoçiant line that’s loaded with values.
100% Syrah. Cask sample. Tasted blind. Simplistic fruit. No distinguishing features. Structurally balanced and drinkable, but aromatically unremarkable. (RH)