Equis Domaine des Lises EQUINOXE Crozes Hermitage 2021 750ml

TASTING NOTES: Although Graillot tells us that he wants this to be a “hyper-light wine”, it is never light in the negative sense of the word. There is too much intensity for that. Instead, it’s an exuberantly fruity, delicious, drink-it-straight-from-the-bottle kind of Crozes with agile tannins and plenty of acidity for focus. Leaping out of the glass, the newly minted 2021 is flush with perfumes of berries, sweet spice, earth and an enticing mineral accent. On the palate, it’s bright, refreshing, and dripping with svelte red fruits mopped up by the crunchy acidity and twist of salinity. It closes long and vibrant with a lick of piquant spice and anise. It’s a delicious reminder of how close the Northern Rhône is to Beaujolais—and not just in terms of distance.

Maxime Graillot and Thomas Schmittel’s nouveau-style Crozes is sourced primarily from a mature, gravelly, organically farmed site in Pont de l’Isère. This site is owned and managed by a good friend and neighbour of the Graillot clan, and the vigneron and producer work very closely together. It is this collaboration that has seen the Equinoxe cuvée reach ever-greater heights. Roughly 80% de-stemmed, the wine is fermented in concrete tanks and large wooden tronconique vats (with a degree of carbonic maceration) and aged for nine months in the same vessel.

James Suckling writes: A medium-bodied red with notes of cherries, red berries and some smoke and violets. Crunchy and juicy with a peppery edge. Soft tannins with a fresh core of berries and a joyful finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink now. - James Suckling 90

This is an authentic Northern Rhone made of 100% Syrah.  The juicy, dark berry fruits and whole peppercorn notes give the drinker utter pleasure.   Bernie, Follow the Drinker®