Les Alexandrins Maison Crozes-Hermitage 2018
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Robert
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Jeb
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Winemaker Notes
Beautiful purple-red, dense color. The nose develops fresh aromas of violet and red fruit with a mineral touch and a hint of spice like grey pepper. On the palate, there is great balance between freshness and density, this wine reveals silky tannins and beautiful aromas of liquorice and red fruit, extending on notes of violets. The perfect combination of balance and richness.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Blended from the lieux-dits of Greffieux (60%), Les Grandes Places (30%) and Les Murets (10%), the 2018 Hermitage Maison Les Alexandrins is a powerfully seductive Hermitage, one that combines intense notes of red raspberries and black olives in a rich, full-bodied wine. It has tannins, but they're ripe and veiled in the primary fruit of youth at the moment. Hints of crushed stone, cedar (30% was aged in new oak, the rest in stainless steel) and licorice emerge on the lengthy finish, giving this impressive bottling even more appeal.
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Jeb Dunnuck
I loved the 2018 Crozes-Hermitage. It has plenty of earthy, darker fruits as well as peppery herb notes, which is classic for the appellation. Nicely textured on the palate, with medium to full body and soft tannins, this charming, balanced Crozes-Hermitage is drinking nicely today yet will keep for at least 5-7 years, probably longer, if you're so inclined.
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Wine Enthusiast
Notes of grilled plum and cassis preserves are shaded by scorched meat and bramble in this four-square Syrah. It’s a ripe, penetrating wine, with bright acidity and fine, silky tannins that are immediately welcoming. This lovely introduction to the Northern Rhône is best enjoyed before 2024.
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2020-
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Robert
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Wine &
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James
Suckling - Decanter
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James
Suckling - Decanter
Maison & Domaine Les Alexandrins is the story of three friends combining the savoir-faire they learn from their parents and grandparents and the fruits from beautiful and historic terroirs. Nicolas Jaboulet, the 6th generation of a wine growing family in Tain l’Hermitage, Guillaume Sorrel, son of Marc Sorrel of Domaine Sorrel in Hermitage, and Alexandre Caso, a specialist in the terroirs of the Northern Rhône, joined forces in 2012. They began working parcel by parcel in Crozes-Hermitage for the wines of Maison Nicolas Perrin. In 2015, the name was changed to Domaine et Maison Les Alexandrins. Today, Maison and Domaine Les Alexandrins produces Northern Rhône wines that are true and classic expressions of the Northern Rhône.
Marked by an unmistakable deep purple hue and savory aromatics, Syrah makes an intense, powerful and often age-worthy red. Native to the Northern Rhône, Syrah achieves its maximum potential in the steep village of Hermitage and plays an important component in the Red Rhône Blends of the south, adding color and structure to Grenache and Mourvèdre. Syrah is the most widely planted grape of Australia and is important in California and Washington. Sommelier Secret—Such a synergy these three create together, the Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre trio often takes on the shorthand term, “GSM.”
Crozes-Hermitage is Northern Rhone’s largest appellation, surrounding the steep granite faces of Hermitage to its north and south. Here the rolling vineyards are less extreme and its soils, rich in clay-limestone and alluvial matter, produce Syrahs that range from fruity and charming to lush and seductive. The Syrahs of Crozes-Hermitage have more mass than those from St. Joseph but are less intense than those from Hermitage. While many are intended for early consumption, some of the best Syrahs from Crozes-Hermitage will age beautifully for 5-10 years.
Up to 15% of white grapes may theoretically be added to red Crozes at the time of fermentation but whether this is done or not depends on the decision of the winemaker. The best Crozes-Hermitage Syrahs will be fleshy with black fruit (currant, blackberry and black cherry) and bay leaf qualities, notes of tar and stone, and a well-concentrated finish of smooth tannins.
About a tenth of the wine produced in Crozes-Hermitage is white, primarily composed of Marsanne supplemented by smaller amounts of Roussanne.