‘Esquisse’, Domaine des Hauts Chassis, Crozes-Hermitage

The wine is divine! This Esquisse cuvée stands out from its fellow wines by its distinguished style but remains very delicate and fruity. A Crozes-Hermitage surprisingly light for a northern Rhone (Rhone for the Burgundy lover!) with a beautiful concentration of fruity aromas, appreciated by connoisseurs for its elegance, its velvet suppleness, and its finesse! This is because Domaine des Hauts Chassis makes this wine in a very different way to that used for most Crozes-Hermitage. No ageing in oak barrels here. The grapes are cold macerated before fermentation, locking in fresher fruit flavours. Then all fermentation and maturation happens in temperature controlled stainless-steel vats, again enabling concentration of fresh fruit flavours. And finally, the wine is bottled after just 8 months – a younger, fresher wine.

On the nose, initial animalistic scents gradually fading to an earthy yet floral scent… decaying roses on a stable floor! You’ll find flavours of light cherry, tomato, smoke and tobacco, with a lovely long finish.

Located to the south of the Crozes-Hermitage appellation, Domaine des Hauts Châssis sits on an exceptional terroir: terraces of rolled pebbles, coarse sand and red clay named “Les Châssis”. Juxtaposing the Rhône River and tempered by the Mistral, the 20 hectares of vines are cultivated in organic farming, with respect for the environment.