Cave de Tain - Crozes Hermitage Les Hauts du Fief 2018

Bettane & Desseauve

About the wine:

Nose of vine peach and smoked meat. Full-bodied and voluminous on the palate, with a few smoky notes for aromatic complexity, and a tannic tightening at the end. By far the most successful of the Cave's crozes in our tasting this year.

About the domain :

The winery now has a vat room of sufficient size to vinify the grapes it brings in and produce its large number of cuvées. It is on a par with the best producers in the region. In Hermitage, the pride of our members who can count on the plot of land bequeathed to them by founder Gambert de Loche, the Epsilon cuvée impresses. A confidential production (1,500 bottles produced), it's a great wine that every discerning wine-lover should have in his cellar.

Decanter

About the wine:

Very dark, black fruits, notes of autumn hedge fruits, licorice and tar. Ample, plush and textured. Tempered tannins provide a framework for the deep black fruit cushion.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the wine:

A regular feature on these pages, this cuvée now shines with unprecedented brilliance. A deep bouquet of black cherry, white pepper and clove, where ageing has not diminished the purity of the fruit, adds to the appeal of the dark color with its violet highlights. The palate offers all the richness and fullness of the best northern Syrahs: unctuousness that never weighs down, juicy black fruit, fine chiselled acidity and density underpinned by tannins that are both firm and fine, a long finish highlighted by smoky notes. A perfect balance for this crozes that will go a long way.

About the domain :

Founded in 1933 by Louis Gambert de Loche, the high-quality Cave Coopérative de Tain-l'Hermitage has 310 members and, with over 1,000 ha of vines, produces around 50% of the appellations in the northern Rhône Valley. It also owns 26 ha of its own vineyards, including 21 ha of Hermitage. A sure bet in the region, in 2014 it acquired brand-new production facilities enabling it to multiply parcel selections.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

A selection of the best parcels, the 2018 Crozes Hermitage les Hauts du Fief is aged exclusively in wood, with around a third new barrels. Vanilla and cedar mingle harmoniously on the nose with blueberries and blackcurrant, while the medium- to full-bodied palate is ripe and unctuous. Woody notes take over on the finish at the expense of nuance, but despite the generous application of oak, this is a fine effort that will drink well for 5-6 years.

About the domain :

The largest cooperative winery in the Northern Rhône, Cave de Tain is a must for tourists visiting the region, if only for the reason that it has a large parking lot at the foot of the Hermitage hill, offering panoramic views all the way down the slope. The wines cover almost all the region's appellations, with the exception of Condrieu and Côte-Rôtie, in a range of quality levels and styles. Collectively, the members farm just under 30 hectares of Hermitage, making them the second largest landowner in this appellation. The entry-level wines are often pleasant and well-made, offering good value for money, while some of the high-end cuvées are ripe and oaky, perhaps offering too much of both for some consumers.

Wine Enthusiast

Jancis Robinson

Vinous A. Galloni

About the wine:

Dark ruby. Fragrant nose of black berries with hints of smoke and spice, licorice and olive. Subtly sweet blackberry and cherry-cola flavors show great energy and acquire a floral quality with aeration. The finish is persistent and slightly tannic, with lingering floral and cherry pit notes.

Jeb Dunnuck