The 2023 Jean-Baptiste Souillard Crozes-Hermitage is a beautifully pure and terroir-driven Syrah from one of the Northern Rhône’s most exciting young vignerons. Produced from organically farmed hillside parcels on granite-rich soils around Crozes-Hermitage, the wine reflects Souillard’s low-intervention philosophy and focus on freshness, transparency and site expression. Working with whole-cluster fermentation and restrained élevage, Souillard crafts a style that balances the savoury intensity of Northern Rhône Syrah with remarkable finesse and energy. The nose reveals blackberry, wild plum and black cherry layered alongside cracked pepper, violet, smoked herbs and subtle olive tapenade notes, giving the wine impressive aromatic lift and regional character.
On the palate, it is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins, vibrant natural acidity and a tightly focused mineral core. Layers of dark berry fruit, savoury spice and delicate earthy complexity are balanced by freshness and granite-driven tension, finishing long, energetic and beautifully persistent with excellent balance and precision. Indigenous yeast fermentation and careful élevage preserve the wine’s purity and youthful vibrancy while allowing the cool-climate Syrah character and mineral detail to shine clearly through the wine.
Ben’s Recommendation:
The 2023 Jean-Baptiste Souillard Crozes-Hermitage is a superb Northern Rhône Syrah — savoury, mineral and beautifully composed with outstanding freshness and peppery complexity. Perfect with roast lamb, duck, grilled beef, mushroom dishes or rustic French cuisine. Enjoy now with decanting or cellar comfortably through 2038+.
