Alain Graillot, Crozes-Hermitage, Rhône, 2010

Tasting: Crozes-Hermitage 2010

Dumb nose. Sleek attack, fine texture, has freshness & finesse. There’s intensity and purity of fruit rather than huge weight or concentration, nicely judged & balanced if a touch hollow. Fine-grained tannins give a fairly long finish.

Tasting: Crozes-Hermitage 2010

Dense episcopal colour; nose of summer fruit with hints of pepper and earth. Palate is ripe, with plum, damson and gently drying tannins. Good length but a little raw and drying at the end. Quite an extracted style.

Tasting: Crozes-Hermitage 2010

Dark mulled black fruits, slightly false oak note outside of nose, green oak. Palate: tar, rubber notes of Syrah, tight knot of black fruit towards end, which comes up abruptly. Food needed, rather austere, ends on low fruit, extraction issues.