2020 Crozes Hermitage “Tiercerolles”
Barruol / Lynch
If one were to author a book called “The Great Wines of Crozes Hermitage,” it would be a quick read. It is the northern Rhône’s largest appellation, and yet historically there hasn’t been much to write home about. When Kermit first started poking around there in the ’70s, Gérard Chave told him only one grower was making wines of any note (whom, sure enough, Kermit was importing soon thereafter). Thankfully, things look brighter today. The best terroirs are better treated, and some lovely wines are coming from the area. Louis Barruol vinifies several of the finest parcels the appellation has to offer, and the result is exactly what a Crozes should be—a gateway wine, serious but a bit more approachable than its bigger sibling, the grand old Hermitage. This juicy, blueberry-and-leather-infused Syrah with a long finish is ready to drink tonight.
—Chris Santini
| Wine Type: | red |
| Vintage: | 2020 |
| Bottle Size: | 750mL |
| Blend: | Syrah |
| Appellation: | Crozes Hermitage |
| Country: | France |
| Region: | Northern Rhône |
| Producer: | Barruol / Lynch |
| Winemaker: | Louis Barruol |
| Vineyard: | 30-50 years |
| Soil: | Granite |
| Farming: | Lutte Raisonnée |
| Alcohol: | 14.5% |
More from this Producer or Region
2021 Crozes Hermitage “Tiercerolles”
France | Northern Rhône
This juicy, blueberry-and-leather-infused Syrah with a long finish is ready to drink tonight.
2021 Côte-Rôtie “Les Roses”
France | Northern Rhône
Delicate and perfumed, it speaks softly, yet it has so much to say: lilies, bacon fat, spices... it could only be Côte Rôtie.
2020 Côte-Rôtie “Fongeant”
France | Northern Rhône
This cuvée is sourced exclusively from the Fongeant lieu-dit, which sits right on the border of the Côte Blonde and Côte Brune, and is renowned for sharing the best of both.
2021 Côte-Rôtie “Besset”
France | Northern Rhône
From the classic aromas of graphite, black fruit, and roasted spice, to the total finesse of its tannins, this is Côte-Rôtie at its best.
2020 Hermitage Rouge “La Pierrelle”
France | Northern Rhône
Elegance and restraint from one of the hill’s lesser-known terroirs.
2019 Côte-Rôtie “La Boisselée”
France | Northern Rhône
Made from six vineyards that, when blended, showcase the whole of the Côte Rôtie appellation.
2022 Côte-Rôtie “La Boisselée”
France | Northern Rhône
Made from six vineyards that, when blended, showcase the whole of the Côte Rôtie appellation.
2021 Hermitage Rouge “La Pierrelle”
France | Northern Rhône
A thick perfume of dry-aged meat, smoke, and violets preface a wine that is powerful, but in perfect proportion.
2020 Côte-Rôtie “Les Roses”
France | Northern Rhône
Layered and textural, this tightly bound opus will open and unfurl itself with time, be it an hour in a decanter or decades in the cellar.
2020 Hermitage Blanc “La Pierrelle”
France | Northern Rhône
From vines that are more than eighty years old comes this Marsanne with magnificent floral, pit fruit, and bitter notes.
About The Producer
Barruol / Lynch
Louis Barruol is an indefatigable force in the Rhône, the 14th generation in his family to be making wine in Gigondas. On what was once the site of a Roman villa, Louis’ cellars show spectacular remains of Roman vinification vats carved into the limestone. Here, Louis works with different grape varietals from the Rhône, vinifying each parcel separately. He’s taken to acting as a micro-négociant, working with top growers in the region who still work with Sérine. Producing only a few precious barrels of each cuvée, Louis is helping to save the authenticity and identity of old Côte Rôtie parcels. Together, he and Kermit blend our Northern Rhône wines and a Southern Côtes du Rhône Blanc and Rouge from a selection of Louis’ purchases.
More from Northern Rhône or France
2019 Côte-Rôtie “La Boisselée”
Barruol / Lynch France | Northern Rhône
2023 Saint-Joseph Blanc “Clef de Sol”
Domaine Jolivet France | Northern Rhône
2021 Côtes du Vivarais “Fûts de Chêne”
Domaine Gallety France | Northern Rhône
2022 Saint Joseph Rouge “La Gloriette Vieilles Vignes”
Lionel Faury France | Northern Rhône
2022 Saint-Joseph Rouge
Domaine Monier France | Northern Rhône
2023 Vin de France Rouge “Cuvée de Louis”
Domaine Jolivet France | Northern Rhône
2021 Hermitage Rouge “La Pierrelle”
Barruol / Lynch France | Northern Rhône
2022 Saint Joseph Blanc “Les Ribaudes”
Lionel Faury France | Northern Rhône
2022 Saint Joseph Rouge “Les Ribaudes”
Lionel Faury France | Northern Rhône
2020 Côte-Rôtie “Fongeant”
Barruol / Lynch France | Northern Rhône
2021 Côte-Rôtie “Les 3 Brunes”
Lionel Faury France | Northern Rhône
2020 Côte-Rôtie “Les Roses”
Barruol / Lynch France | Northern Rhône
2019 Côte-Rôtie “La Boisselée”
Barruol / Lynch France | Northern Rhône
2023 Saint-Joseph Blanc “Clef de Sol”
Domaine Jolivet France | Northern Rhône
2021 Côtes du Vivarais “Fûts de Chêne”
Domaine Gallety France | Northern Rhône
2022 Saint Joseph Rouge “La Gloriette Vieilles Vignes”
Lionel Faury France | Northern Rhône
2022 Saint-Joseph Rouge
Domaine Monier France | Northern Rhône
2023 Vin de France Rouge “Cuvée de Louis”
Domaine Jolivet France | Northern Rhône
2021 Hermitage Rouge “La Pierrelle”
Barruol / Lynch France | Northern Rhône
2022 Saint Joseph Blanc “Les Ribaudes”
Lionel Faury France | Northern Rhône
2022 Saint Joseph Rouge “Les Ribaudes”
Lionel Faury France | Northern Rhône
2020 Côte-Rôtie “Fongeant”
Barruol / Lynch France | Northern Rhône
2021 Côte-Rôtie “Les 3 Brunes”
Lionel Faury France | Northern Rhône
2020 Côte-Rôtie “Les Roses”
Barruol / Lynch France | Northern Rhône
Kermit once said...
Kermit once said...
Let the brett nerds retire into protective bubbles, and whenever they thirst for wine it can be passed in to them through a sterile filter. Those of us on the outside can continue to enjoy complex, natural, living wines.
Inspiring Thirst, page 236