Textbook French Rhône: Domaine Aléofane Crozes-Hermitage from Natacha Chave, one of the region’s great producers and one of Decanter’s ‘Six Winemakers to Watch’: case of six bottles

This is a textbook example of Northern Rhône Syrah and our wine connoisseurs are pleased to have secured for us a small parcel of wines from one of the most famous names in French winemaking. It’s the 2022 Domaine Aléofane Crozes-Hermitage from Natacha Chave.

With every vintage Madame Chave stakes her claim as one of the region’s great producers and one to follow with excitement. Named one of Decanter’s ‘Six Winemakers to Watch’, she was brought up making wines with her renowned parents Nicole and Bernard Chave, and decided to go it alone in 2004 when her brother, Yann Chave, took over the family’s famous vineyards.

She made a great success of a parcel of vines in St Joseph, then in 2007 turned to her home, Crozes-Hermitage, where she became a hands-on producer of organic wines on only 5 acres. But what a 5 acres! She chose some of the finest vineyards in the appellation, with vines up to 50 years old, making this 100% Shiraz in the Northern Rhone with elegance, beauty and finish—and gaining an almost cult following as well as the highest praise from such influential critics as Andrew Jefford (Financial Times and Decanter) and Jancis Robinson.

Award-winning sommelier Tanguy Martin notes, ‘Peppery and bacon, with an intense nose of bramble fruits and extracted blueberries notes. The wines from Natacha Chave are always fruit forward but this Crozes really shows wonderful savoury and meaty characters. Perfect for any game, venison, or even the classic Wellington!’

The Club Tasting Panel commend this delicious to Members. Lovely to drink now, it will continue to develop and improve with a bit of ageing, until 2028.

Case of six bottles. RRP £200. CCUK £149 including delivery (UK mainland).

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