Laurent Combier
Domaine Combier’s roots trace back to 1936, the birth of the Crozes-Hermitage appellation. That year, Maurice Combier, the grandfather of current winemaker Laurent Combier, with whom I met on this occasion, purchased a property along the Rhône River. Initially, the family practiced self-sustaining farming, cultivating a mix of fruit trees, vegetables and vines. After World War II, Maurice shifted focus to winemaking, producing wine for the local market. In 1952, the estate transitioned exclusively to Syrah, laying the foundation for what would become the Clos des Grives vineyard. In the 1960s, Domaine Combier embraced organic farming—a groundbreaking move at the time—under Combier’s father, who also became a major peach producer. Official organic certification followed in 1981. However, the Sharka virus in the early 1990s devastated local peach orchards, prompting Combier to focus on viticulture even more. After studying arboriculture and viticulture, Laurent built a new cellar in 1990. Starting with 5 hectares, Combier expanded the domaine’s holdings to 60 hectares by today, complemented by additional purchased grapes from roughly 40 hectares, including 2 in Saint-Joseph. As a side note, Laurent Combier currently also presides over the Crozes-Hermitage AOC. Taking a look at what’s in the glass, it was interesting to taste the flagship red Crozes-Hermitage Clos des Grives from four different vintages, with 2022 and 2017 standing out. The 2009 has reached at the end of its lifespan. I encourage readers the check out the Crozes-Hermitage Cap Nord, both red and white, which use grapes from the northern part of the appellation and bundle excellent freshness and vivacity. Roughly 30% of the total production is exported.
From Northern Rhône 2023: The Art of Perseverance (Jan 2025) by Nicolas Greinacher
2023 Crozes-Hermitage Blanc
Color: White
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2023 Crozes-Hermitage Blanc Cuvée L
Color: White
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2023 Crozes-Hermitage Cuvée L
Color: Red
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