Crozes Hermitage AOP – Domaine Delhome – Kaolin – white

Description

The Crozes-Hermitage AOP – Kaolin white from Domaine Delhome is a 100% Marsanne cuvée from carefully selected plots on the clay-limestone slopes of the left bank of the Rhône, within the Crozes-Hermitage appellation area. The name “Kaolin” refers to the pale, clayey, mineral-rich soils, which give the wine its aromatic precision, velvety texture and delicate freshness.

The vines are farmed according to the principles of sustainable viticulture, with meticulous work in the vineyard throughout the year: single Guyot pruning, disbudding, yield control, regular monitoring of vine health, and careful use of treatments. The grapes are harvested by hand, to keep the berries intact and select only the finest grapes at optimal ripeness.

In the cellar, the grapes are pressed slowly and gently as whole bunches. The juice is then cold-settled, then fermented in temperature-controlled stainless-steel vats at low temperature (around 15 °C) to retain as much freshness and aromatic brightness as possible. Part of the cuvée may be vinified or aged in neutral oak barrels, depending on the year, to add complexity and roundness without masking the purity of the fruit. Ageing on fine lees for several months enriches the wine’s texture while maintaining its tension.

On tasting, the Kaolin white shows a brilliant pale yellow colour with golden glints. The nose opens on notes of white flowers (hawthorn, linden), juicy pear, white peach and light dried fruit, with a hint of fresh almond and an underlying chalky minerality. On the palate, the attack is clean, then the texture unfolds with breadth and elegance, carried by lovely freshness and a long finish marked by saline and slightly toasty nuances.

This wine shows at its best at the table, alongside delicate fish, seafood, poultry in cream sauce, risottos or mild soft cheeses. It can also be enjoyed as an aperitif, to appreciate all its finesse. At its peak in its first 2 to 5 years, it can also evolve well for a few more years, developing more honeyed, complex aromas.

Grape variety: 100% Marsanne
Terroir: Pale clay-limestone, rich in kaolin
Viticulture: Sustainable, hand-harvested
Vinification: Direct pressing, fermentation in stainless-steel vats (partly in barrel depending on the vintage)
Ageing: On fine lees, 6 to 8 months
Serving temperature: 10–12 °C
Cellaring potential: 2 to 6 years

A pure, precise and elegant cuvée that brilliantly illustrates the nobility of Marsanne on the great terroirs of Crozes-Hermitage.