Northern Rhône native, Alain Graillot, is recognized by his passion for Syrah. Prior to starting his own domaine, Alain worked in Burgundy, where he received guidance from the reputable Jacques Seysses of Domaine Dujac. In 1985, Alain founded Domaine Alain Graillot just outside the village of Pont de l’Isère, about 6km south of Tain-l’Hermitage. He is now considered one of the most highly sought-after producers in the Northern Rhône due to his exuberant, robust and impeccably made Syrah-based wines.

He now has some 15ha in Crozes Hermitage itself as well as 1ha in St-Joseph. He is one of the talented winemakers who have helped to revive the flagging reputation of Crozes Hermitage by raising quality standards.

The vineyards of Crozes Hermitage surround the hill of Hermitage and so experience similar climatic conditions, though they do not rise so high, nor are they on the steepest slopes. The difference between the wines of Crozes Hermitage and Hermitage is mainly attributable to the soil in as much as the hard granite rock of Hermitage gives way lower down the hill to sandier, more clayey heavier soils, with variations on this pattern throughout the appellation.

The red Crozes Hermitage is traditionally vinified in the same manner as red Hermitage, using 100% Syrah grape and Alain Graillot's wines are quoted as packed full of this superb fruit flavour. The rarer white wine is made from Marsanne and Roussanne grapes and are not normally so long lived as the red.

Whenever the wines of Alain Graillot are mentioned in the various books available on wines, the comments are always full of praise. The respected Robert Parker describes the wines as having sensational dark purple colour with a huge bouquet of rosted black raspberry fruit, smoky, earthy scents and a nice touch of toasty new oak and comments it should last for 12-15 years.

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