The wines of Domaine du Colombier tell the tale of terroir in the Northern Rhone as well as anybody. With 13ha of Syrah in Crozes, 1.81ha of vines just over the appellation border in Hermitage, and 1.9ha of Marsanne for the white. Winemaker Florent Viale produces concentrated yet zippy wines that unmistakably reveal the soil and climatic traits of each area.

The Crozes-Hermitage wines come from 12 or so different vineyard plots around Tain and Mercurol, just on the appellation’s border with Hermitage proper and a stone’s throw from the hallowed hill. Put simply, this is the finest terroir in Crozes-Hermitage, a fact that shines through very clearly in the quality of the juice.