Domaine Alain Graillot - La Guiraude 2023
Domaine Alain Graillot is an essential reference in the northern Rhône valley, located in Pont-de-l’Isère, at the heart of the Crozes-Hermitage appellation. Founded in 1985 by Alain Graillot, the estate is now run by his sons, Maxime and Antoine, who rigorously uphold the precise, upright, and deeply Rhodanian style of the house. The La Guiraude cuvée comes from a rigorous selection of old Syrah vines, from the finest terroirs of rolled pebbles and clays of Crozes-Hermitage. These soils, combined with the temperate influence of the Rhône, allow for grapes of great maturity while maintaining freshness and balance. La Guiraude represents the most concentrated and ambitious interpretation of the estate’s work on the appellation.
Crozes-Hermitage La Guiraude 2023 stands out for an intense and deep expression of Syrah. The nose reveals aromas of ripe black fruits, blackberry, and blackcurrant, accompanied by notes of violet, black pepper, and olive tapenade. On the palate, the wine is ample, structured, and powerful, while maintaining remarkable freshness. The tannins are dense but perfectly ripe, providing a silky texture and great depth. The vinification, marked by a significant proportion of whole cluster harvesting, enhances the aromatic complexity and the wine’s structure. The long and controlled aging allows the wine to gain harmony without ever losing its energy.
The 2023 vintage confirms La Guiraude’s aging potential, which will evolve beautifully over several years. At the table, this wine ideally accompanies red meats, stewed dishes, or spicy cuisines with bold flavors. Its length and structure make it a gastronomic wine but also a tasting cuvée for discerning amateurs. La Guiraude embodies a demanding and uncompromising vision of Crozes-Hermitage, combining power, finesse, and terroir identity. It is a profound, elegant, and sincere wine, faithful to the spirit of Domaine Alain Graillot. An emblematic cuvée, among the greatest of the appellation.
Grape variety: 100% Syrah
