Domaine des Remizières Crozes-Hermitage 2020, Rhone, France

The Desmeures family of Domaine des Remizières are fourth-generation winemakers who originally sold grapes to the local cooperative. After completing their winery in 1974, the family began production at their new property. The estate is now managed by Phillipe Desmeures, his daughter Emilie and son Christophe. They have expanded to 30 hectares with vineyards in Crozes-Hermitage, St-Joseph and Hermitage. Emilie now oversees the winemaking, with her brother Christophe tending to the vineyards. We were excited to add them to our lineup of Direct Imports last year. The basic Crozes-Hermitage comes from the hills of Crozes, on clay-limestone soils with bits of galets (stones) scattered throughout the vineyards. They use 100% destemmed Syrah grapes, then age in large oak casks. About as close to a pure expression of Syrah one could hope to find from this often-overlooked wine region.