The Story
Alain Graillot La Guiraude Crozes-Hermitage Rouge 2020
100% Syrah Fruit for this wine is a barrel selection of Graillot's best Crozes-Hermitage lots each vintage. 'La Guiraude' is chosen after Alain has tasted every barrel. This stem-fermented wine is a powerfully structured, yet elegant wine that will age well. The special cuvée is not terroir specific and is only produced during exceptional vintages.
Critical Acclaim
95 Wine Advocate
The 2019 Crozes Hermitage la Guiraude was bottled in March 2021, but it is just being sold this spring (2022). It's a full-bodied, rich effort, almost a bit over the top, with bold flavors of blackberry jam, uncluttered and unsoftened by much in the way of new oak. It's concentrated and intense, a bit chewy without being overly hard, with a long, velvety finish.
95 Vinous
Glass-staining ruby. Cassis, cherry-cola, olive paste, exotic spices and pungent flowers on the highly expressive nose. Shows impressive depth as well as energy to its sweet black and blue fruit, allspice, salty olive and candied violet flavors, which take on a mineral aspect with air. Youthfully chewy tannins add grip to an impressively long and focused finish that emphatically repeats the floral and mineral notes. I've no doubt that this wine will reward patience, and my drinking window is probably overly conservative.
Description
Alain Graillot La Guiraude Crozes-Hermitage Rouge 2020
100% Syrah Fruit for this wine is a barrel selection of Graillot's best Crozes-Hermitage lots each vintage. 'La Guiraude' is chosen after Alain has tasted every barrel. This stem-fermented wine is a powerfully structured, yet elegant wine that will age well. The special cuvée is not terroir specific and is only produced during exceptional vintages.
Critical Acclaim
95 Wine Advocate
The 2019 Crozes Hermitage la Guiraude was bottled in March 2021, but it is just being sold this spring (2022). It's a full-bodied, rich effort, almost a bit over the top, with bold flavors of blackberry jam, uncluttered and unsoftened by much in the way of new oak. It's concentrated and intense, a bit chewy without being overly hard, with a long, velvety finish.
95 Vinous
Glass-staining ruby. Cassis, cherry-cola, olive paste, exotic spices and pungent flowers on the highly expressive nose. Shows impressive depth as well as energy to its sweet black and blue fruit, allspice, salty olive and candied violet flavors, which take on a mineral aspect with air. Youthfully chewy tannins add grip to an impressively long and focused finish that emphatically repeats the floral and mineral notes. I've no doubt that this wine will reward patience, and my drinking window is probably overly conservative.
