Crozes-Hermitage ou Crozes-Ermitage

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Accessory grape varieties

Terroir

• To the north, the vineyard rests on a primary-era substrate of 'Tournon granite', identical to that of the Saint-Joseph appellation on the opposite bank of the Rhône, between Crozes-Hermitage and Serves-sur-Rhône.
• The sandy and clayey granitic arenas derived from this substrate are poorly stable and are held in place on the slopes by terraces supported by traditional dry-stone walls, making this part of the vineyard closely comparable to the slopes of the Saint-Joseph, Côte-Rôtie, and Condrieu appellations.
• To the south and east, the less rugged terrain consists of Quaternary terraces of gravelly debris eroded from the Alpine massifs, the oldest and highest of which lie to the north of Mercurol and Chanos-Curson.
• Certain high points in this sector are locally covered with loess — wind-borne deposits reworked by erosion and re-calcified — notably in the district known as 'Les Blancs' at Gervans, while more recent intermediate levels form the 'Coteau des Pends' at Mercurol.
• The southernmost part, the largest in terms of delimited and planted area, rests on the terrace known as 'Les Chassis', whose rounded pebbles overlie soils with low available water-holding capacity that can induce water stress in the vine.
• The wind that blows frequently along the Rhône corridor — the Mistral when it comes from the north — dries the air and brings freshness in summer but a bitterly cold sensation in winter, while southerly winds generally herald stormy disturbances. (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)

• The black grape variety Syrah, referred to locally as 'petite syrah', accounts for the very large majority of plantings at around 90%, with a local clone known as 'syrah de Gervans'.
• The white grape varieties Marsanne and Roussanne — the latter being of only marginal importance — are found mainly on calcareous white soils near Crozes-Hermitage and Mercurol, as well as on kaolinic sands at Larnage.
• The geographical zone, initially restricted in 1937 to part of the commune of Crozes-Hermitage, was extended to 11 communes as early as 1952 before being tightened in June 1989 to 3,200 hectares from a previous 4,800 hectares.

• All red wines display a deep garnet colour that takes on more orange-tinged hues with age.
• The white wines show a pale colour with green highlights that becomes more sustained and golden with age.
• Depending on how malolactic fermentation is managed, the whites express either intense citrus aromas and a lively freshness suited to drinking young, or a richer floral and spiced profile that benefits from medium-term cellaring.
• The red wines produced in the south are approachable, aromatic, well-structured without being excessive, and suited to medium-term ageing, while those from the northern slopes, for certain cuvées, show greater structure and ageing potential.

• These ripening conditions allow the wines to express a character that sets them apart from their close neighbours in the Hermitage appellation, with reds of more supple structure and whites of greater contrast.

Facts drawn from the specification's terroir-link section by automatic interpretation — see the source.

All appellations in France

Sources

• Product specification (BO Agri, PDF) — approved 10 décembre 2024 publié au JORF du 12 décembre 2024, JORF 12 décembre 2024
• Official INAO text (show_texte)
• INAO product entry
• Official trade body site — Inter Rhône