Country: France / La Guiraude
Variety: Syrah Rhône Valley
Winery: Alain Graillot / Crozes-Hermitage
Alain Graillot, chemical industry executive turned farmer, is showing how good Crozes-Hermitage really can be. The 1999 vintage of his special cuvée, La Guiraude, is a powerful, but bright wine, full of red fruits and firm tannins and balancing acidity. Raisins and rich fruit join the mixture that goes to make an immediately enticing wine, but one that should age over the next 10 years.