Crozes Hermitage - Les Fees Brunes AOC

Crozes Hermitage Les Fées Brunes

  • Crozes Hermitage AOC, 
  • Rhône, 
  • france

Latest Awards

  • 92 points James Suckling , April 2022
  • 91 points Wine Enthusiast , July 2021
Background

Jean-Luc Colombo has been a renowned enologist in the Rhône Valley since the early 1980s. His consultations at prestigious estates across the Rhône quickly earned him a reputation for helping produce incredible expressions of this rugged terroir. But his greatest contribution to the wine world is the exceptional wines he crafts alongside his wife, Anne, and daughter, Laure. The Cornas-based Colombo winery has earned impressive international recognition bringing modern viticultural practices to the region — and for creating beautifully concentrated, balanced, and fresh styles of syrah. Living among their vineyards and wetlands, the family have been committed to sustainable farming, achieving organic certification for their estate vineyards from Ecocert in 2016.

TERROIR & VINTAGE NOTES

Crozes Hermitage is the largest of all the northern appellations of the Rhône with the vineyards surrounding the Hermitage appellation. "Les Fées Brunes" (The Brunette Fairies) is made from 60-year-old vines from a single vineyard planted on the terraced granite slopes.

Winemaking & Aging

Grapes are harvested by hand into small, shallow containers and vinified traditionally, undergoing a three weeks maceration post fermentation. The wine is aged six months in oak barrels (15% new oak and 85% in one- to four-year old barrels).

Tasting Notes

On the nose, the wine is intense; reminiscent of blackberries and licorice, supported by notes of black pepper. The palate offers a wonderful combination of the New World and Old World styles as this wine has lots of fresh cherry and black plum fruit flavors against an intense, spicy, mineral background.

92
Points

An excellent introduction to the syrah reds from Cornas. Full nose of tar and smoke with underlying forest-berry aromas. With a little aeration it gains savory and meaty notes. Deep and rich, but with gentle tannins that slowly build together with the smoked-bacon and mineral character. Long, moderately dry finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold. – J.S.

James Suckling - April 2022

91
Points

A solid, forthright version, with well-structured currant and bitter cherry fruit wrapped with savory and bramble notes. An iron note asserts itself on the finish. Drink now through 2027. 3,000 cases made, 700 cases imported. — JM

Wine Spectator - June 2021

91
Points

There’s an earthen, granitic edge to crisp, concentrated black-cherry and red currant flavors in this wine. Matured six months in oak barrels (15% new), it’s full bodied but zesty, with a finish that lingers on fine, peppery tannins. Ready now, it should hold through 2025. —A.I.

Wine Enthusiast - July 2021

Appellation

Crozes Hermitage AOC

grape varieties

100% Syrah

Sizes

750ml

technical details
  • ABV: 14.5%
  • Closure: Cork
  • Vegan
winemaker

Jean-Luc Colombo

Jean-Luc Colombo

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Crozes Hermitage - Les Fees Brunes AOC Crozes Hermitage - Les Fees Brunes AOC

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