DOMAINE BELLE Cuvee Louis Belle, Crozes-Hermitage

Cuvée Louis Belle is named for the viticulturist father of Albert Belle, to whom Louis handed on the vineyards in the 1970s. The wine is 100% Syrah (Shiraz) from organically-farmed vineyards in the communes of Larnage and Crozes-Hermitage growing on clay and limestone soils and normally yielding just 30 hl/ha. Viticultural practices include close pruning and leaf thinning to improve bunch-exposure to sunlight. The grapes are harvested by hand, partially destemmed and vinified using indigenous yeasts in temperature-controlled, stainless-steel vats with daily pumping over and punching down.

A final warm maceration follows the four-week fermentation. The wine is then matured in oak barrels (15% new, the remainder equally one, two and three years old) for 18 months. The wine typically shows aromas of fruit liqueurs, cocoa bean, black fruit and sweet spices. Secondary characters may include tobacco, peat, vanilla, cloves and coffee. The palate is rich and juicy, yet also elegant, with velvety tannins and a persistent finish. With age, black fruit and sweet spice characters become more evident.