A great yet affordable Crozes-Hermitage: Emmanuel Darnaud “Mise en Bouche” 2022

Image ~ June 1, 2026June 1, 2026 ~ Zoltán Németi

I don’t think it’s easy to find value in the Northern Rhone, but I actually found some amazing wines in the last few months for fair prices. One of them was this beauty, which is a textbook example of syrah from the region, weighing in at a perfect 12,5% ABV. Highly recommended!

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Beautiful syrah: Les Jarlotiers Saint-Joseph 2024

Image ~ March 17, 2026 ~ Zoltán Németi

Les Jarlotiers is a brand exclusive to Vinatis and it consists of six Rhone Valley wines. I found the Syrah 2024 and the Crozes-Hermitages 2024 of the lineup both quite unripe, while the cheap Cotes du Rhone 2024 amazed me, it’s a standout for its category and price. The Saint-Joseph is a step up in price (15€) but also in quality – a fascinating syrah.

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Caves de Tain Saint-Joseph Nobles Rives 2019

Image ~ December 21, 2022 ~ Zoltán Németi

A powerful Saint-Joseph syrah. Good, yes, many will love it, but it lacks some Northern Rhone charm for me.

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Stéphane Montez Syrah 2018

Image ~ January 20, 2021 ~ Zoltán Németi

A Northern Rhone Syrah from an emerging region, Vin de Pays des Collines Rhodaniennes. Promising but I’m not fully convinced.

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Domaine Des Hauts Chassis “Esquisse” 2017, Crozes-Hermitage AOP

Image ~ June 5, 2020June 5, 2020 ~ Zoltán Németi

Am I alone finding the Northern Rhone reds riper and riper recently? Like this Esquisse 2017 from Domaine Des Hauts Chassis. In my memories the estate’s wines were occasionally a bit green 10-12 years ago, and this represents the other end of the spectrum.

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northern rhone

A great yet affordable Crozes-Hermitage: Emmanuel Darnaud “Mise en Bouche” 2022

Beautiful syrah: Les Jarlotiers Saint-Joseph 2024

Caves de Tain Saint-Joseph Nobles Rives 2019

Stéphane Montez Syrah 2018

Domaine Des Hauts Chassis “Esquisse” 2017, Crozes-Hermitage AOP