Domaine Alain Graillot

Certain domains are synonymous with their appellation. In Crozes-Hermitage, where there exists a number of worthy wineries, Domaine Alain Graillot is almost universally put at the top of the list. Even as far back as his first vintage in 1985, the wines have been turning heads despite that Crozes back then existed in the shadow of the other highly reputed appellations of the Northern Rhône.

The Domaine makes principally Crozes-Hermitage, with a small percentage of white wine, and they also own a few parcels in both Saint-Joseph and Hermitage. The work in the vines is meticulous and the syrah is vinified in the traditional manner, in whole bunches.

In most vintages, all the parcels are used to make a single cuvée in Crozes-Hermitage. It is only in the most exceptional vintages that the Graillot’s make another wine, La Guiraude, which is the product of the very best barrels.

Alain has taken a step back from the day to day activities at the Crozes winery, but he is far from retired as he has numerous projects outside of France. But he can do so because his sons, Maxime and Antoine, have more than adequately taken over the reins of this fabled estate, assuring that the Domaine Alain Graillot will remain the reference in Crozes-Hermitage.