{"product_id":"alain-graillot-la-guiraude-crozes-hermitage-2020-northern-rhone-france","title":"Alain Graillot \"La Guiraude\" Crozes-Hermitage 2022 (Northern Rhone, France) - [JS 95] [WS 92]","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003eAbout the Winery: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eNorthern Rhone's legendary Alain Graillot, the man who put Crozes-Hermitage on the fine wine map, founded his domaine in Crozes-Hermitage in 1985, and rapidly became one of the most in-demand producers in the Northern Rhone for his exuberant, robust, and complete Syrah-based wines. Alain owns about 50 acres of over 30-year-old Crozes-Hermitage vines on the flat alluvial plain between the Rhône and Isère rivers, in well-draining soils of sand, gravel, and stones. He also has two tiny parcels in St. Joseph, from which he makes a slightly fresher, more early-drinking wine than the remarkable Crozes-Hermitage that constitutes the majority of his production. There's also a small quantity of Crozes-Hermitage Blanc, made from 35+-year-old vines, 80% Marsanne and 20% Roussanne. Alain turned over duties to his son Maxim in 2008, who continues to harvest by hand and work organically, employing whole-cluster fermentation and aging the wines primarily in 1-to-3 year old barrels purchased from some of the top estates in Burgundy.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e-\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eIn great years, the domaine also makes tiny quantities of a barrel selection knows as \"La Guiraude\", a rare and remarkably complex wine of particular distinction. The domaine's status as one of the top domaines in all of France is without question and the whole lineup are must-haves for any serious Northern Rhone fan.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"span-4-5\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-panel=\"overview\" class=\"panel on\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"panel-inner p25\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e100% Syrah - Fruit for this wine is a barrel selection of Graillot's best Crozes-Hermitage lots each vintage. 'La Guiraude' is chosen after Alain \u0026amp; son Maxime have tasted every barrel. This whole-cluster 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch4 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003eRatings \u0026amp; Reviews\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e95 Points - James Suckling:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"\u003cspan style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'San Francisco', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eA remarkable Crozes-Hermitage with drive, structure and plenty of texture. The nose reveals notes of cassis, dark cherries, currants, violets and warm spices. Medium-bodied with fine tannins. Chalky and focused, with a juicy core of cherries mingling with the violets. Lively and precise with a serious, compact finish at this stage. Try after 2026.\u003c\/span\u003e\" - JS (Jan 2025)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e92 Points - Wine Spectator:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA sanguine version, with roasted meat notes atop plum reduction sauce and raspberry. Dusty earth and dried flowers chime in, with beautiful lavender details toward the saline, high-energy finish, which stretches way out, marked by graphite and smoke. Drink now through 2029. 1,200 cases made, 120 cases imported.\u003c\/span\u003e\" - KB (Oct 2025)\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"CHAMBERS \u0026 CHAMBERS","offers":[{"title":"750 ml","offer_id":44629615214751,"sku":"","price":65.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0481\/8940\/7391\/files\/file_1800x1800copy_71ad883e-52cf-42be-bd79-689ee417024d.png?v=1699026303","url":"https:\/\/artisan.wine\/products\/alain-graillot-la-guiraude-crozes-hermitage-2020-northern-rhone-france","provider":"Artisan W\u0026S","version":"1.0","type":"link"}