Crozes-Hermitage Cap Nord Combier 2020

Lot presentation

Crozes-Hermitage Cap Nord Combier 2020

The wine

Cap Nord is a Syrah with a plethora of fruity and spicy aromas, flavoursome and fleshy on the palate. Here, this Rhône grape variety has benefited from organic cultivation on loess soils (slightly sandy decomposed granite). The harvest is done by hand and the wine is produced in small vats with regular punch-down. The wine is then aged in 4-year-old barrels. Delicious with sauce-based game or accompanied by red berry chutney.

This estate was founded by Laurent Combier’s grandfather in 1936 and started out life as several hectares of vines (the grapes were sold every year to the local cooperative) and apricot trees. In 1989, Laurent’s parents left the cooperative and started looking after the 5 hectares themselves. Little by little, they expanded the estate to 15 hectares and, today, it spans 60 hectares (mostly in Crozes but with a small amount in Saint-Joseph). Laurent’s arrival in 1990 marked a new chapter. This oenology graduate constructed a new winery and made the estate entirely independent (it was he who pushed for a break from the cooperative), introducing new methods such as the use of concrete vats and amphorae to give the wines a silkier texture. Today, Laurent is accompanied by his sons Julien and David, who work in the vineyard and the winery, respectively. the wines have reached new heights. Organically produced and matured in a way that preserves the freshness and fruit, it’s difficult to find a better Crozes-Hermitage! Difficult, but not impossible as Laurent Combier has started working with the Spanish oenologist Veronica Ortega on some parcel selections in Crozes and Saint-Joseph. First results are very promising and these cuvées will be on the market soon.