Gabriel and Florent Viale come from a family of Crozes grape growers who used to sell their production to the local cooperative and negoce. Since 1991 they have domaine-bottled all their wine, providing independent merchants who patrol the Rhone, like ourselves, with a direct source of excellent red Crozes, and a little very fine Hermitage, too.

The Crozes rouge is made from 8.5 hectares of Syrah grown on old alluvial soils. The 1998 cuvee gaby, of which one third is aged in wood, is an absolute charmer, with the surging cherry and raspberry flavours of young Syrah; deep coloured, powerful, peppery, but aromatic and well-balanced.

The Viale’s 1.2 hectares of Hermitage rouge is located in two named vineyards. The brown sandy soils of the Beaume vineyard give finesse and aroma, while the stonier terroirs of Les Diognieres are the source of the restrained power and length of flavour that are the touchstone of classic Hermitage. These wines are indeed classics, the 1994 vintage providing a lovely mix of mulberry fruit and vinosity. Both wines are wonderful expressions of Syrah at its very best.