L’Enracinée—meaning “deeply rooted”—comes from 60-year-old vines of massal selection planted over pebbles and clay-loam soils. The wine is 50% whole-cluster fermented and aged in barrels, with the best lots selected for this cuvée. A more mouthfilling expression, it opens with blackberry and blackcurrant fruit layered with notes of lavender and wild thyme. Hints of smoked meat and spice add a classic Syrah character. The palate shows depth and lift, unfolding gracefully with air. Restrained yet expressive, it’s an elegant wine with a touch of swagger—like a bespoke suit accented by a perfectly chosen pocket square.

Produced with a light touch from organically grown Syrah selected from the finest lots of the vintage, the 2023 Domaine du Chêne Vert “L’Enracinée” Crozes-Hermitage Rouge comes from 60-year-old, massal-selection vines, the best of the best. Medium-bodied, dark, and lushly layered, it reveals notes of black cherry, freshly picked raspberries, cola, and vanilla, with a subtle touch of crushed gravel that hints to old, deeply rooted vines. Sip now or cellar and savor later.

From the first swirl, this Crozes shows everything I love about Northern Rhône Syrah—violets, black olive, and cracked pepper over a core of ripe blackberry. The palate is sleek and savory, with fine tannins and a touch of smoked meat and iron giving real depth. What makes L’Enracinée stand out is its balance—bright, lifted fruit framed by just the right amount of structure. It’s elegant without losing its rustic soul. Drink now with a quick decant, or cellar for a few years to let the savory notes deepen.