Domaine du Colombier
The Domaine du Colombier winery is situated beneath the western side of the hill of Hermitage, where they maintain a modest 1.6ha. It's a small plot by Australian standards, but a good size when considering the world famous Hermitage appellation is only 130ha in total. Florent Viale’s passion is vineyard, always has been as has been the case for the Viale’s since 1929. They have just over 12 hectares under vine in Crozes-Hermitage (10ha) and Hermitage (2ha) in the much exalted Beaumes sector. The Viale’s sold most of their fruit to negociants, most notably Guigal until the early 1990's. Nowadays, Florent and his brother David produce and market all the wines under their own label.
Domaine du Colombier produce three reds, two cuvées from Crozes-Hermitage, one Hermitage and in recent years they also make a white wine in each appellation. The difference between the two Crozes’ is the older vine and riper fruit goes into the 'Cuvée Gaby' and it sees around twenty percent new Burgundian coopered oak. The Domaine prefers to use 600 litre barriques over smaller oak treatment in their Crozes-Hermitage wines and the same goes for the Hermitage. The wines are truly worth taking note of, their fruit power is exceptional; bright and ripe with layer on layer of red fruit spice. These are vivid examples of Syrah with the structure to be able to handle years in the cellar morphing in to wonderful wines.
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