2006 Graillot Crozes-Hermitage

S

Sharon Bowman

Sharon Bowman
As Amy Winehouse would sing, with deep-throated despair, "You came back to what you knew..."

Yes, I have revisited Alain Graillot's 2006 Crozes-Hermitage, to the greater pleasure of, well, me.

(A quick survey shows it is not a hit with Arnaud.)

Yet, forging on despite his claims of thinness and cold, I find it absolutely opulent, with gorgeously balanced syrah fruit. Yes, with fruit, some black pepper and more dark fruit.

This is so lovely, I am "bluffed," as the French say.
 
originally posted by Sharon Bowman:
2006 Graillot Crozes-HermitageAs Amy Winehouse would sing, with deep-throated despair, "You came back to what you knew..."

Yes, I have revisited Alain Graillot's 2006 Crozes-Hermitage, to the greater pleasure of, well, me.

(A quick survey shows it is not a hit with Arnaud.)

Yet, forging on despite his claims of thinness and cold, I find it absolutely opulent, with gorgeously balanced syrah fruit. Yes, with fruit, some black pepper and more dark fruit.

This is so lovely, I am "bluffed," as the French say.
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Do you have an opinion as to how these age/develop.. I have lone bottles of '01 and '02 (I know.. but perhaps producer can trump vintage one more time)
 
From recent experiences, 1996 and 1999 are drinking beautifully, but the latter needs more bottle developement to give all there is in the wine. I would not open 2001, as the bottle tasted some 6 months ago was not in its best moment. 2002 I have never tasted
 
originally posted by David M. Bueker:
Thanks for the note. I bought some recently but had not seen or heard much about 2006 in the N. Rhone.
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Vintage of the Millenium!!! Now you've heard it. No need to thank me.

Mark Lipton
 
originally posted by drssouth:
Do you have an opinion as to how these age/develop.. I have lone bottles of '01 and '02 (I know.. but perhaps producer can trump vintage one more time)
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Glad someone else could answer, because: no!

Have had nothing older than 2005.
 
Ah, that's my laziness, not translating back. In French je suis bluff(e) means "I am really impressed." Not bluffed as in hoodwinked.

Cannot answer first question, though.
 
Thanks for the note, Sharon. I just got some in my Chambers St moving sale shipment, so now it'll be a test of my mettle to see how long I can keep from opening one. They do age well in my experience, too, even the cuve normale.

Mark Lipton
 
originally posted by SFJoe:
You know, they age pretty well, but I'm not sure I like them better old than young.
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Graillot (reds) specifically is one of the producers that I much prefer older. Young, they have a distinctive pine/greeny aroma that doesn't appeal to me. It seems to dissipate over time and in fact some aged Graillot (I particularly recall a 1990 in Arlington somewhere) have been outstanding. But every time I open a young one, ewwww.

It should be noted that this effect is specific to Graillot, IMHO, and is not a blanket assessment of all things syrah. In fact, I quite enjoyed a 2005 Crozes from Bruyeres/Reynaud (Terre et Ciel) a couple of weeks ago - and a recent run of 2005/2006 Romaneaux-Destezet (Souhaut) VDP de l'Ardeche have been truly delicious and consumed rather quickly.
 
originally posted by mlawton:
originally posted by SFJoe:
You know, they age pretty well, but I'm not sure I like them better old than young.
Click to expand...

Graillot (reds) specifically is one of the producers that I much prefer older. Young, they have a distinctive pine/greeny aroma that doesn't appeal to me. It seems to dissipate over time and in fact some aged Graillot (I particularly recall a 1990 in Arlington somewhere) have been outstanding. But every time I open a young one, ewwww.

It should be noted that this effect is specific to Graillot, IMHO, and is not a blanket assessment of all things syrah. In fact, I quite enjoyed a 2005 Crozes from Bruyeres/Reynaud (Terre et Ciel) a couple of weeks ago - and a recent run of 2005/2006 Romaneaux-Destezet (Souhaut) VDP de l'Ardeche have been truly delicious and consumed rather quickly.
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Mike -- Graillot uses barrels from his friends at Domaine Dujac. Perhaps there is something in the barrels that disturbs you when the wines are young.
 
originally posted by mlawton:
It should be noted that this effect is specific to Graillot, IMHO, and is not a blanket assessment of all things syrah. In fact, I quite enjoyed a 2005 Crozes from Bruyeres/Reynaud (Terre et Ciel) a couple of weeks ago -
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I haven't had this one and hadn't heard of it, but I was impressed with both the '05 Les Croix VV and Cuvee George Reynard from Bruyeres. That said, I liked Graillot '04 and '05 on release too.
 
originally posted by Claude Kolm:
originally posted by mlawton:
originally posted by SFJoe:
You know, they age pretty well, but I'm not sure I like them better old than young.
Click to expand...

Graillot (reds) specifically is one of the producers that I much prefer older. Young, they have a distinctive pine/greeny aroma that doesn't appeal to me. It seems to dissipate over time and in fact some aged Graillot (I particularly recall a 1990 in Arlington somewhere) have been outstanding. But every time I open a young one, ewwww.

It should be noted that this effect is specific to Graillot, IMHO, and is not a blanket assessment of all things syrah. In fact, I quite enjoyed a 2005 Crozes from Bruyeres/Reynaud (Terre et Ciel) a couple of weeks ago - and a recent run of 2005/2006 Romaneaux-Destezet (Souhaut) VDP de l'Ardeche have been truly delicious and consumed rather quickly.
Click to expand...
Mike -- Graillot uses barrels from his friends at Domaine Dujac. Perhaps there is something in the barrels that disturbs you when the wines are young.
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Could be the use of stems too - as per here: http://winedisorder.com/comment/56/455/?all=true#5805. Wouldn't that flavor dissipate over time as per the prior discussion?
 
originally posted by Seth Hill:
What constitutes old?

Recent bottles of '99 Fonsalette Cuvee Syrah and '99 Allemand Cornas Reynard were spectacular.
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Whoa, Nellie. I was talking about Crozes Hermitage, not Cornas.

Not that Allemand Reynard has to be kept into decrepitude, but I don't think anyone would tell you it's better at 2 than at 10.
 
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