"(made with whole clusters and fermented and aged in neutral oak barrels) Lurid ruby. Smoke-accented dark berry and floral scents, joined in the glass by cracked pepper, camphor and allspice nuances. Sappy and sharply focused on the palate, offering bitter cherry, cassis and licorice flavors that deepen and unfurl slowly on the back half. Nicely concentrated yet lithe, showing excellent clarity and youthful tannic grip on a long, spice-driven finish. - Josh Raynolds"
- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (July 2017), 91 pts
Go To Fayolle Crozes-Hermitage Rouge La Rochette
"Hints of charcuterie and smoke lend flair and elegance to pristine blackberry and black cherries on the palate here. It's a full-bodied but freshly balanced wine with firm, taut tannins. The finish lingers on delicate spice and mineral tones. It should improve through 2025 and hold further. - ANNA LEE C. IIJIMA"
"A big step up in quality (for not much step up in price), the 2015 Crozes-Hermitage La Rochette comes from slightly more granite soils and spent 12-15 months in neutral barrels. It has beautiful purity of fruit as well as classic notes of ripe black fruits, bloody meat, saddle leather, peppery herbs, and some telltale minerality. Medium to full-bodied, concentrated, and textured, it’s a rock star of a Crozes Hermitage to drink over the coming decade or so."
"While medium-bodied in frame, this densely packed Syrah heaves with luscious, almost pulpy, black-cherry and blueberry flavors. Its rounded, fleshy nature is amplified by sunny acidity and smooth, gentle tannins, but bright streaks of violet and crushed granite invigorate the midpalate. It's ready to drink now but should hold through 2026. Anna Lee C. IIJIMA"
"The 2017 Crozes Hermitage La Rochette combines gentle notes of cracked pepper with ripe blueberries in a full-bodied, creamy-textured wine. It's lush on the palate, only firming up on the lengthy, mouthwatering finish. - Joe Czerwinski"