Olivier et Lafont Crozes-Hermitage

2019 vintage Olivier & Lafont are one of our ‘go to’ producers in the Rhône. Baptiste Olivier grew up in Bordeaux, worked extensively around France and America, then settled in the Rhône Valley before partnering with longtime friend Gérald Lafont to craft wines under their own names. This is their Crozes-Hermitage, a spicy, dark and aromatic red composed entirely of syrah. Sourced from 35 year old vines, the wine expresses blackcurrant, black olive and a bit of smokiness. Some time in older 600L barrels has rounded out the wine nicely while still allowing the fruit to shine through. It's so easy to go wrong with Crozes and it can often be a bitter disappointment - literally. This is certainly not the case here. Excellent now but built to age.