Crozes-Hermitage AOC

Crozes-Hermitage AOC
Wine region
Type Appellation d'origine contrôlée
Country France
Part of Northern Rhone
Other regions in Northern Rhone St. Joseph, Cornas, Hermitage Cote-Rotie
Climate region continental climate
Size of planted vineyards 1238 hectares
Grapes produced Marsanne, Roussanne, Syrah

Crozes-Hermitage is a French wine Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) in the northern Rhône wine region of France. The appellation is the largest in the northern Rhone, and its wines are less highly regarded than those from the nearby appellations of Côte-Rôtie or its near-namesake Hermitage. Most of the wines produced here are red wines made from the Syrah grape, sometimes blended with small quantities of white Roussanne or Marsanne grapes. Some white wines are also made, based on Marsanne and/or Roussanne.[1]

History

In 1846, a panel of tasters commended the wine for its likeness to Hermitage wines.[2] The appellation was officially defined in 1937 and was expanded in 1952.[3]

Climate and geography

While red wines dominate, white wines are also produced.

Crozes-Hermitage, along with the rest of northern Rhône has a continental climate that differs from its southern neighbour, which has a more Mediterranean climate. Winters are wet and marked by the cold le mistral winds that can last into the Spring. The appellation is fairly large by Northern Rhône standards, with its 1,238 hectares accounting for approximately half of the entire region's 2,400 hectares.[1] The appellation's boundary begins around 10 km north of Tain-l'Hermitage, extends around the village of Gervans with its south- and south-western granite slopes and then spreads south around Larnage where the land flattens and consists of more clay. Approaching Tain and the village of Mercurol the land rises again and the appellation spreads east. In this region, the soil is mostly rocks, sand and clay. Just south of Tain galets roulés, small surface stones also found extensively in Châteauneuf-du-Pape in the southern Rhône, appear. The southernmost part of the appellation is flat and newly planted.[3]

Grapes and wine

As with the northern Rhône in general, Crozes-Hermitage produces primarily red wines, with Syrah the only red grape permitted under appellation rules. The rules allow the addition of up to 15% white grapes, Marsanne and Roussanne. These two grape varieties are also used to make up the white wines that are made in the appellation. The more notable vineyards in Crozes-Hermitage include Les Chassis, Les Sept Chemins and Les Meysonniers.[1]

Many of the red wines are relatively light and intended for early drinking, while others will keep and improve in bottle for several years.[4]

Winemaking

Crozes-Hermitage is notable for the large amount of cooperative wine. Cave de Tain, a large cooperative, takes half of the grapes grown and another large producer, Jaboulet, takes a big part of the other half, and also owns its own high quality vineyard sites.[5] Although as noted a small amount of white grapes can be included when making red wines, more and more pure Syrah wines are being made.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Niels Lillelund: Rhône-Vinene JP Bøger - JP/Politikens Forlagshus A/S, 2004. ISBN 87-567-7140-1, p. 93-96
  2. ↑ John Livingstone-Learmonth: The Wines of the Rhône Faber & Faber, London 1992. ISBN 0-571-14622-8
  3. 1 2 Niels Lillelund: Rhône-Vinene JP Bøger - JP/Politikens Forlagshus A/S, 2004. ISBN 87-567-7140-1, p. 93
  4. 1 2 Niels Lillelund: Rhône-Vinene JP Bøger - JP/Politikens Forlagshus A/S, 2004. ISBN 87-567-7140-1, p. 94
  5. ↑ Niels Lillelund: Rhône-Vinene JP Bøger - JP/Politikens Forlagshus A/S, 2004. ISBN 87-567-7140-1, p. 93-94
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