The Cotes du Rhone appellation is one of the world’s largest wine-producing regions. The variety of grapes is amazing. Crozes-Hermitage is the largest appellation in the northern Rhône . I had a strategy of buying wines from the less highly regarded appellations neighbouring  the very expensive ones which I can rarely afford to drink – in this case Côte-Rôtie or its near-namesake Hermitage. I also buy St Joseph, also from the region, particularly to celebrate my son’s birthday.  Most of the wines produced here are red wines made from the Syrah grape, sometimes blended with small quantities of white Roussanne or Marsanne grapes. It’s rather a light wine – and for that reason one I often have on Boxing day. This was relatively expensive but was good, although Marks & Spencer do a comparable one for £14, bottled in the same place…

Tasting notes: oaked, slightly peppery, a little complexity – this is typical Crozes-Hermitage. Rather light. 

Wine Colour – Red
Price – £25
Where do I get it from? – online
Current Vintage – 2016
Bottle size – 750ml
Grape – Syrah
Country – Rhone Valley/France
Points – 90

Food Pairings: We had this with roast leg of lamb and Spring vegetables and it went perfectly.