Crozes Hermitage AOP – Domaine Delhome – Altitude 330 – red

Description

The Crozes-Hermitage AOP – Altitude 330 from Domaine Delhome is an emblematic red cuvée made from Syrah, the flagship grape of the northern Rhône Valley. The wine takes its name from the high altitude of the plots (around 330 metres) on the heights of the appellation, in the village of Larnage, a terroir renowned for its soils of loess, white clays and weathered granite, which give the Syrah remarkable aromatic finesse and natural tension.

The vines enjoy a cooler climate, with marked day–night temperature differences, encouraging slow, even ripening of the grapes, ideal for preserving acidity, freshness and aromatic complexity. The vines are farmed with sustainable viticulture, with careful soil work, a deliberate limitation of yields and a hand harvest, allowing a rigorous selection of bunches at perfect phenolic ripeness.

In the cellar, the winemaking is traditional, in concrete or stainless-steel vats. The grapes are fully destemmed, then macerate for 3 to 4 weeks with gentle pump-overs and rack-and-returns to extract colour, tannins and aromas with finesse. Malolactic fermentation then takes place, after which the wine is aged for 12 months in French oak barrels, a small proportion of them new, to give the wine structure while respecting the fruit.

On tasting, Altitude 330 shows a deep ruby colour with purple glints. The nose is complex and expressive, with notes of blackcurrant, blueberry and black raspberry, lifted by touches of black pepper, liquorice and violet over a slightly oaky, smoky background. On the palate, the wine has a clean attack, lovely density and fine, silky tannins. The balance is carried by lovely freshness, chalky minerality and a long finish with a hint of spice.

Elegant and classy, this red Crozes-Hermitage is ideal with red meats, game, slow-cooked dishes or mature cheeses. It can be enjoyed young after a short decanting, but will reveal its full potential after 4 to 7 years of cellaring.

Grape variety: 100% Syrah
Terroir: White clays, loess, granite – 330 m altitude
Viticulture: Sustainable, hand-harvested
Vinification: Destemming, long maceration, fermentation in vats
Ageing: 12 months in barrels (partly new oak)
Serving temperature: 16–17 °C
Cellaring potential: 5 to 10 years

A high-altitude cuvée, at once deep, fresh and elegant, reflecting the precise work of Domaine Delhome and the pure expression of northern Syrah.