Crozes Hermitage blanc, Aux Bêtises AOP 2022

Wine description for Crozes Hermitage blanc Aux Bêtises AOP 2022 from Les Bruyères

Colour & Appearance

Luminous golden yellow with greenish reflections that underscore the vintage’s freshness. Clear, brilliant texture in the glass.

Nose

Expressive and multi-layered: white peaches, apricots and mirabelle plums meet acacia blossoms and chamomile. Beneath these, mineral notes of damp granite and beeswax, along with a fine almond note, attributable to the Marsanne component.

Palate

Remarkably structured for a white Crozes-Hermitage: the Roussanne brings tension and acidity backbone, whilst the Marsanne provides fullness and creamy texture. On the palate, ripe stone fruits, candied citrus peel and a subtle honey note dominate. Mid-palate reveals a saline character reminiscent of the granite soils of the northern Rhône. The 13% alcohol is perfectly integrated; the wine never feels heavy.

Finish

Long and precise with lingering minerality and a hint of white pepper. Freshness persists to the end – a sign of considerable ageing potential.

Terroir & Origin

David Reynaud manages his parcels in the heart of Crozes-Hermitage biodynamically. The granite soils impart that mineral precision which sets this wine apart from simpler examples of the appellation and brings it closer to great Hermitage wines.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Classic blend of Roussanne and Marsanne, the two great white grape varieties of the northern Rhône. Biodynamic viticulture and Reynaud’s uncompromising quality philosophy result in a wine with pronounced terroir character.

Food Pairing Suggestions

Ideal with grilled monkfish, scallops with butter sauce, Poularde de Bresse with morels or creamy goat’s cheese. Also an excellent choice with risotto with porcini mushrooms.

Special Features

A white Crozes-Hermitage with the bite and complexity of a great Hermitage – at a fraction of the price. Already accessible now, but will gain further depth over the next 5-7 years.