On the nose, this Syrah is open and expressive: juicy black cherry, blackberry, blackcurrant, cracked black pepper, a hint of liquorice, and a cool menthol lift. On the palate, it’s generous yet fresh, with ripe dark fruit up front, spicy Syrah character through the middle, and fine, plentiful tannins that give depth without heaviness. The finish is long, balanced, and elegant, with fruit and finesse in perfect sync. A seriously well-judged Crozes!

This is Northern Rhône with both muscle and finesse. Domaine Yann Chave starts as a proper family farming story, with fruit orchards and a few vines on the side. Then Yann comes along in the mid-90s, fresh out of studies, full of ideas, and absolutely locked in on quality. One near-miss with pesticides later, he pivots hard into organic farming, long before it was fashionable, and never looked back. Certified organic since 2007, the domaine today sits at around 20 hectares right in the heart of Crozes-Hermitage (with even a cheeky slice of Hermitage itself). Yann’s philosophy is all about balance: observation, rigour, and pleasure. He farms like a strategist and makes wine like a minimalist - no tricks, no makeup, just pristine fruit and thoughtful handling. For the reds, Yann is all about Syrah in its purest, most expressive form. He believes extraction should be gentle, not aggressive, and that oak often gets in the way of fruit and place. So you’ll find careful destemming, pump-overs instead of punch-downs, controlled temperatures, and ageing mostly in tank or neutral vessels. The aim? Silky tannins, vibrant fruit, and that unmistakable Crozes signature of spice, freshness, and drinkability. These are wines with structure and soul - powerful when they need to be, but always agile and precise.