2017 Alain Graillot Crozes-Hermitage 750 ml

From the quintessential Northern Rhône producer Alain Graillot, this 2017 Crozes-Hermitage bottling has the savory power, dark fruit density, and pedigree to steal the spot as your new favorite Syrah. We have it at 20% off the list price, at a time when most other retailers are posting “out of stock” signs.

It’s no exaggeration to say that this domaine, perhaps more than any other, has set the standard for the variety in the appellation, extracting from grapes the baking spices, intense floral aromatics, licorice, and leathery depth that are so abundant in today’s release.

“Graillot is a qualitative leader for the Crozes-Hermitage appellation,” pronounced Wine Spectator. Echoing the sentiment, Vinous declared: “For many wine lovers, this is the touchstone producer of Crozes-Hermitage, and the 2017s and 2018s definitely perform in the top tier of the appellation.”

The 2017 vintage was notable for its excellence, terroir transparency, and—most consequentially—its low yields, meaning the fraction of this wine that ended up in the States was even smaller than usual, hence why many sellers are already sold out.

We’ve hung onto our supply of this standard-bearer cuvée at a price of just $36. Rhône expert Jeb Dunnuck advised: “Lovers of impeccably made, old school Northern Rhône Syrah can't go wrong with a case of this,” while Vinous laid on the praise, describing it as “densely packed and seamless in the mouth.”

One of the iconic old-school Rhône bottlings, with the classical structure to age exquisitely or stand up to rich holiday table fare, this Crozes-Hermitage belongs in every cellar, especially at this discounted price.

Graillot’s appellation-level bottling is an ideal first step to discovering an iconic estate that was founded in 1985 by Alain Graillot, a regional legend who honed his winemaking chops at Domaine Dujac in Burgundy. Tending 50 acres of stone-studded soils on the alluvial plain between the Isère and Rhône rivers, Alain and his sons farm organically and approach winemaking with rustic simplicity. Hand-harvesting and 100% whole-cluster fermentation result in wines of bold exuberance, purity, and muscle that have generated a huge following around the world.

Today, Alain has largely retired, transferring control of the estate to his son Maxime, who has maintained his father’s approach but now has the advantage of using vines aged 40 to 50 years, filled with inky concentration. On our last visit, ski season had just ended so Alain was back from the slopes to taste with us and tease his son. While we had a chance to sample an array of fantastic wines, including the famous, rare La Guiraude bottling, this was the Syrah we wanted to bring home for Wine Access members because of its outstanding value and quality.

Now that our precious few cases have arrived stateside, we hope to share this with as many of you as possible—but it won’t be long before we’re putting up our own “out of stock” sign.