Robert Parker 92
Contrary to my notes from last year, the 2017 Crozes Hermitage Guer-Van now contains a portion that was aged in older demi-muids as well as the concrete-aged element. It still comes from granitic soils in the commune of Gervans, offering up notes of cassis and blueberry. It's full-bodied, with a ripe, creamy texture and hints of licorice and cracked pepper on the lengthy finish.

About the Winery

Maison M. Chapoutier began in 1808, and has since expanded into an internationally recognized domaine. Michel Chapoutier is a passionate hard-working winemaker and charismatic figure from France’s Northern Rhône valley. Since taking over the business in 1990, Michel has achieved world recognition for his work of excellence and relentless search for the finest terroirs, as well as for pioneering biodynamic viticulture in the Rhône Valley before it became a trend.

His passion for both wine and gastronomy led him to meet two 3-Michelin-Star chefs, with whom he created the Chefs’ Range of Northern Rhone wines:

Anne-Sophie Pic began her career in the front of the house of her family’s restaurant, Maison Pic. Her father’s untimely death and the subsequent loss of their third Michelin star spurred her to take the helm of the kitchen, despite having no formal culinary training. She eventually won back her family’s third star, being only the fourth female chef to ever earn three stars.

Yannick Alléno, by contrast, started working in kitchens when he was 15 years old, apprenticing under the greats of the time. He eventually won first prize in the Auguste Escoffier competition, and silver in the prestigious Bocuse d’Or in 1999, and eventually took over the kitchen at the two-star Le Meurice, where he earned a third star in 2007. Today his influential restaurants span the globe, with outposts from Paris to the Middle east and east Asia.

True trailblazers in their field, each chef worked individually with M. Chapoutier to select vineyards and parcels from the prestigious appellations of Cornas, St. Joseph, St. Peray and Crozes-hermitage, with the mission and passion to produce world-class gastronomic wines.

M. Chapoutier's rich and crafty production extends beyond northern Rhone. The Marius single-varietal wines are produced in homage to his great-grand father who used to say ‘A good wine is one that beckons us to take another sip!’ These wines carry his message and reflect the warmth of the southern France terroir in which they are rooted.



www.pic-chapoutier.com

www.alleno-chapoutier.com

www.chapoutier.com