{"product_id":"crozes-hermitage-aoc-la-guiraude-2013","title":"Crozes-Hermitage AOC \"La Guiraude\" 2013","description":"\u003ch4\u003eVineyard and winemaking\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLa Guiraude is not a single-vineyard wine, but a selection of the finest barrels from Alain Graillot’s Crozes-Hermitage cellar in a year considered worthy of the cuvée. The Syrah comes from well-drained alluvial and gravel soils on the plain near Pont-de-l’Isère, where warm days and the northern Rhône’s cooling Mistral help preserve fragrance and definition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe grapes are harvested by hand and fermented with whole bunches and native yeasts, a defining element of the Graillot approach. The wine then matures for around a year in predominantly used French oak, building structure without imposing new-oak flavour, before being lightly filtered for bottling.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eTasting notes\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDeep ruby-garnet, with a mature brick-red reflection at the rim.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eNose\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBlackberry and dark cherry sit alongside dried violet, black olive and cracked pepper. With air, more evolved notes of leather, smoked meat, woodland floor and cocoa begin to emerge.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003ePalate\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStructured yet finely drawn, with savoury black fruit, fresh acidity and tannins that have softened while retaining grip. Liquorice, graphite and dried herbs add complexity, leading to a long finish of pepper, earth and dark fruit. As with any mature bottle, development will depend on storage and individual condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eFood pairing\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePair with slow-roasted shoulder of lamb, venison haunch with juniper, beef olives in a rich gravy, or a mushroom and suet pudding. Stand the bottle upright before opening and decant gently, tasting as you go rather than exposing it to air automatically for a fixed period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eBackground story\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlain Graillot founded his domaine in Crozes-Hermitage in 1985 and became one of the appellation’s benchmark growers. Whole-bunch fermentation, restrained use of oak and an emphasis on savoury freshness helped establish a style admired well beyond the northern Rhône.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLa Guiraude is the domaine’s rarest Crozes-Hermitage, assembled from the barrels that show the greatest depth and balance rather than produced every year. The 2013 therefore represents a cellar selection within an already highly regarded estate, now offering the additional complexity of bottle age.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Domaine Alain Graillot","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54980215308670,"sku":"01CROZESGRAILLOT","price":106.1,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0036\/1984\/8252\/files\/alain-graillot-crozes-hermitage-aoc-la-guiraude-2013-600x960.png?v=1791384855","url":"https:\/\/sommelierschoice.co.uk\/products\/crozes-hermitage-aoc-la-guiraude-2013","provider":"Sommelier's Choice","version":"1.0","type":"link"}