ProducerDomaine du Colombier

Domaine de Colombier is widely regarded as one of the best producers of Crozes Hermitage and Hermitage. The 13 hectare estate is scattered over some of the best sites in Mercurol and Tain, including 1.5 hectares in the renowned Beaume vineyard on the hill of Hermitage. The estate is run by the Florent Viale who uses traditional methods and bottles without filtration to maximise complexity.  Florent aims to express pure fruit character but his wines also have the capacity to age well and his Crozes Hermitage is consistently one of the most consistent in the appellation.   

RegionRhone, France

The Rhone Valley stretches almost 500 miles from North to South and is home to some of France's oldest vine plantings that were first cultivated in Roman Times. The region is split into Northern and Southern Rhone, both of which are very contrasting regions. From the North, the appellations of Hermitage and Cote Rotie produce some of the most famous and rare wines from Syrah, harvested from the very steep slopes carved into the hillsides. It is also here that the world's best Viognier is produced from the Condrieu appellation.

Heading to the warmer South and a sizeable 13 grape varieties...