Crozes-Hermitage AOC (France)
Crozes-Hermitage is a wine region in the North Rhône Valley of France.
Syrah is the only red grape permitted in the AOC.
Typical Flavors
 Raspberry |
 Blueberry |
 Cherry |
 Olive |
 Spices |
 Pepper |
 Mint |
 Minerals |
Oak Added Flavors:
 Vanilla |
 Coffee |
 Chocolate |
 Tobacco |
Raspberry, Blueberry, Black Cherry, and Green Olive are typical cool climate Syrah flavors.
With hints of Spices, White Pepper, Mint, and Minerals.
Cool Climate vs Warm Climate
Cool Cimate
Cool climate Syrah has light fruit flavors:
Raspberry. Blueberry. Black Cherry. Green Olive. Spices. White Pepper. Mint. Minerals.
Regions: France. Italy. Germany. USA (Sonoma Coast).
Warm Cimate
Warm climate Syrah has darker flavors:
Darker Berries, Plum, and Jam. Black Pepper rather than White Pepper. Black Olive rather than Green Olive. Licorice rather than Mint.
Regions: Australia. USA (California). South Africa.
Profile
Cool climate Syrah has an elegant body and good acidity:
| BODY | Medium - Full | ||
| TANNINS | High | ||
| FRUIT | Medium | ||
| ACIDITY | Medium - High | ||
| |||
Food Pairing
 Sausages |
 Salami |
 Ham |
 Casseroles |
 Mushroom |
 Pork |
 Lamb |
 Beef |
 Wild Boar |
 Deer |
Meat |
 Hamburger |
The massive taste of a full bodied Crozes-Hermitage pairs best with bold food.
Crozes-Hermitage loves Roasted Lamb and BBQ.
Pairing Suggestions
Excellent Pairing:
BBQ. Grilled. Roasts.
Roasted Potatoes and Onions.
Grilled Mushrooms (Portobello).
Grilled Veggetables.
Rich Casseroles. Beef Stew.
BBQ. Chicken. Pork. Rabbit. Game.
Roasted Lamb. Lamb Chops. Lamb Shank.
Hamburger. Cheese Burger. Bacon Burger.
Red Meat Dishes. Spareribs. Veal Chops.
Strip Steak. T-Bone. Kobe. Entrecôte.
Cheese:
Aged Cheese. Goat. Cheddar. Gouda. Pecorino.
Blue. Camembert.
If You Like Crozes-Hermitage
You Might Also Like:
The Ideal Glass
The Bordeaux glass is perfect for a bodied red wine.
It is taller than other red wine glasses, and has a slimmer bowl.
The large size of the glass allows the bouquet to develop. It smooths out rough edges, plays down tannins, and allows the wines to achieve balance.
The slimmer bowl sends the wine directly to the back of the mouth for maximum taste.
Syrah in France
In the Northern Rhône Valley of France, where the cold Mistral winds blow down from the Massif Central there are 5 Syrah appellations:
Côte-Rôtie AOC - a blend of Syrah and up to 20% Viognier.
Saint-Joseph AOC - Syrah and up to 10% Marsanne and Roussanne.
Crozes-Hermitage AOC - Syrah and up to 15% Marsanne and Roussanne.
Hermitage AOC - Syrah and up to 15% Marsanne and Roussanne.
Cornas AOC - 100% Syrah.
In the Southern Rhône, Syrah is blended in GSM wines (Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre) to produce famous blends such as Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas and Côtes du Rhône.
Hermitage vs Crozes-Hermitage
Hermitage and Crozes-Hermitage are two different appelations (AOC) from the same area around the city of Tain l'Hermitage in Côtes du Rhône North.
Hermitage is the most famous and considered the best French Syrah.
Crozes Hermitage wines are lighter while Hermitage is more flavorful.
The main difference comes from the soil. Hermitage has a granite soil while Crozes has more clay and sand. Hermitage vineyards are at the top of the hill and more exposed to the sun. Crozes Hermitage vineyards are below.
Côtes du Rhône
Côtes du Rhône is an AOC (Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée) wine region in the Rhône Valley of France. There are two main regions:
- Côtes du Rhône North (Septentrional)
- Côtes du Rhône South (Méridional)
Côtes du Rhône North
In the North, the main grape is Syrah.
The grapes grow on very steep slopes, and are manually picked in hillside trolleys, wich adds to the price.
Côtes du Rhône South
In the South, the main grape is Grenache.
The area is famous for its GSM wines: A blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre.