Domaine Belle, Crozes Hermitage Cuvee Louis Belle, 2015
A decade on, this is Crozes-Hermitage drinking exactly where it should be. Domaine Belle is a small Northern Rhône estate run by Philippe Belle, who took the reins in 2003 — the family had sold their grapes to the local Tain l'Hermitage cooperative since 1933 (when Louis Belle joined); Albert began making wine again, and Philippe founded Domaine Belle in 1990. Cuvée Louis Belle is their flagship, named for the patriarch (Philippe's grandfather), who actually joined the local Tain l'Hermitage cooperative in 1933; the modern domaine was founded by Philippe in 1990 after Albert took over from Louis, drawn from Syrah vines ranging 20 to 100 years old. The wine is fermented with native yeasts, partially destemmed, and raised 16-18 months in a mix of new and used barrels. 2015 was a benchmark across the Northern Rhône — concentrated, structured, built to age — and ten years in bottle have done exactly what you'd hope: smoothed the tannins, deepened the aromatics, and pushed the wine squarely into its window without sacrificing any tension. A serious bottle from a quietly excellent address.
Original: $89.99
-65%$89.99
$31.50Product Information
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Description
A decade on, this is Crozes-Hermitage drinking exactly where it should be. Domaine Belle is a small Northern Rhône estate run by Philippe Belle, who took the reins in 2003 — the family had sold their grapes to the local Tain l'Hermitage cooperative since 1933 (when Louis Belle joined); Albert began making wine again, and Philippe founded Domaine Belle in 1990. Cuvée Louis Belle is their flagship, named for the patriarch (Philippe's grandfather), who actually joined the local Tain l'Hermitage cooperative in 1933; the modern domaine was founded by Philippe in 1990 after Albert took over from Louis, drawn from Syrah vines ranging 20 to 100 years old. The wine is fermented with native yeasts, partially destemmed, and raised 16-18 months in a mix of new and used barrels. 2015 was a benchmark across the Northern Rhône — concentrated, structured, built to age — and ten years in bottle have done exactly what you'd hope: smoothed the tannins, deepened the aromatics, and pushed the wine squarely into its window without sacrificing any tension. A serious bottle from a quietly excellent address.
