2019 Crozes Hermitage Cuvee Louis Belle
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Tasting notes
Opaque violet. Smoky, spice-accented aromas of cherry, black raspberry and singed plum, with hints of licorice and cracked pepper. Broad and pliant in texture, offering dark berry and violet pastille flavors, along with hints of licorice and smoked meat. Finishes spicy and long, with a repeating berry note and rounded tannins adding subtle grip.
Critic scores
Average Score
Alistair Cooper MW, jancisrobinson.com
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
Beautiful cassis and black raspberry fruits as well as bouquet garni, flowers, and a hint of bacon fat emerge from the 2019 Crozes-Hermitage Cuvée Louis Belle. This is another gorgeous, impeccably made, balanced wine from this team that's well worth your time and money. This cuvée spends 18 months in just 15% new French oak, with the balance in 1- to 3-year-old barrels.
This vintage, some tasters may actually prefer the 2019 Crozes Hermitage Cuvee Louis Belle over the Roche Pierre. There's still plenty of cedar and vanilla influence, but more of the fruit comes through and—at least for the moment—the wood and fruit seem better integrated. Mixed berries and cedar mingle easily on the medium to full-bodied palate, swirling into a long, balanced finish with hints of black olives and licorice. Tasted twice (once blind), with consistent notes.
100% Syrah. Organic. Aged for 18 months in oak (15% new). Barrel sample. Tasted blind. Leather and lots of spiced notes, cocoa and balsamic nose. Rich palate and a very dark-fruit-led leather-infused palate – but underpinned by good acidity. Seems a bit atypical for Crozes but has a nice compact smoky palate. (AC)