Domaine Michelas-St. Jemms Crozes-Hermitage La Chasseliere 2019 Magnum

Degustation Parker: P 92 – More concentrated than this producer’s other Crozes, the 2020 Crozes Hermitage la Chasseliere is a gorgeous effort, filled with black cherries and blackberries, all backed by notes of black olives, peppery spice and licorice. It’s medium to full-bodied but not overweight or over-extracted, with a rich, velvety—almost creamy—feel on the palate and a long, long finish. Tasted twice (once blind), with consistent notes.

Harvest had been underway for a few days when I visited this family-owned domaine just south of Tain l”Hermitage, so the Chevrol family (three sisters and a brother) understandably delegated my tasting to affable export manager Laurent Gomez. “Last year, we finished harvest on September 18,” he said, adding, “This year, we started picking on the 18th.” Farming 50 hectares mainly in Crozes-Hermitage, but with small parcels in Cornas, Hermitage and Saint-Joseph, the estate is transitioning to organic viticulture and has added several biodiversity corridors among the vineyards.