The Desmeures family of Domaine des Remizières are fourth-generation winemakers who originally sold grapes to the local cooperative. After completing their winery in 1974, the family began production at their new property. The estate is now managed by Phillipe Desmeures, his daughter Emilie and son Christophe. They have expanded to 30 hectares with vineyards in Crozes-Hermitage, Saint-Joseph, and Hermitage. Emilie now oversees the winemaking, with her brother Christophe tending to the vineyards. The Cuvée Christophe is 100% Syrah from the predominantly limestone based soils in their holdings. The grapes are destemmed and fermented in large oak tanks and the wine is aged in a mix of new and used oak barrels. It is full bodied and inky in profile, deep and weighty on the palate and it has incredible, earthy depth and classic smoky pepper notes to round out its deep cassis fruit. Although this varietal can sometimes present a rather tannic front, Domaine des Remizières does an excellent job here, integrating and managing the tannin perfectly.