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2019 M. Chapoutier Crozes-Hermitage Les Varonniers, 1.5ltr

France Direct
Expected Arrival:
10 weeks from purchase date

Removed from a professional wine storage facility; Purchased from a private collector

2 available
Bid *
Ends Sunday, 7pm Pacific

RATINGS

96James Suckling

Deep, smoky, minty and spicy nose that expands and expands as it aerates, gaining ever more earthy complexity. Stunningly concentrated and focused palate with so much bitter chocolate and black cherry, but even more power. Giant finish that’s astonishingly refined for this appellation.

95Vinous / IWC

Expansive aromas of ripe blackberry, cherry liqueur, licorice, vanilla and candied violet are energized by exotic spice and mineral flourishes. Broad and fleshy on the palate, offering densely packed, smoke-laced black and blue fruit, mocha, olive paste, exotic spice and floral pastille flavors that show fine detail and mineral lift. The impressively long, smoky finish echoes the floral and mineral notes and is framed by steadily building, even tannins.

95+ Jeb Dunnuck

...pure cassis, graphite, and peppery aromatics as well as a rich, full-bodied, concentrated style on the palate.

92The Wine Advocate

...intense aromas of cherries and vanilla, plus hints of cassis and pencil shavings... Full-bodied, dense and rich, it's firmly tannic, with a long, dusty finish.

17.5+ Jancis Robinson

Really expressive – vivid black-olive tapenade and smoked sandalwood. A sense of freshness and fine cedary tannins with gaminess, smokiness and blackberry. Opulent but not unbalanced and a long creamy compote finish.

REGION

France, Rhône Valley, Northern Rhône, Crozes-Hermitage

The Northern Rhône Valley wine region hugs the Rhône River from Vienne in the north to Valence at its southern tip. The French call the region Côtes du Rhône Septentrionales, and it is divided into eight appellations. Along with its neighbor to the south, the Southern Rhone Valley, it is famous for its big, tannic, intensely concentrated wines. Syrah is the only red grape permitted in AOC wines from this sub-region, though the Syrah can be blended with the white wine grapes Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne, depending on the regulations for each AOC. White wines are made from Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne. Of the eight appellations in the north, the most admired wines tend to come from Côte-Rôtie, Condrieu and Hermitage, though there are certainly exceptional wines to be found in St. Joseph, Crozes-Hermitage, St.-Peray, Crozes-Hermitage and Cornas. Along with Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne, Rhône wines are among France’s best known and most collected wines. Red wines from these appellations are notable for their signature aromas of bacon and green olives, and for their depth. Robert M. Parker, a great champion of Rhone wines, has written that “the northern Rhône produces three of the greatest wines in the world – the white wines of Condrieu and the red wines of Côte-Rôtie and Hermitage.”

TYPE

Red Wine, Syrah (Shiraz)

This grape is grown in milder climates and produces a medium-to full-bodied wine. It is also known as Shiraz, but should not be confused with Petit Sirah, which was developed by crossing Syrah with Peloursin.