Critics reviews
The son of Alain Graillot, Maxime Graillot has his own operation with Crozes-Hermitage representing the bulk of his 2,500-case production.
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #204, Dec 2012
The son of Alain Graillot, Maxime Graillot has his own operation with Crozes-Hermitage representing the bulk of his 2,500-case production.
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #204, Dec 2012
About this WINE
Domaine Maxime Graillot
Son of the wine-making doyen of Crozes-Hermitage, Alain Graillot, Maxime was initially unsure whether to assume the family mantle, despite having studied at Dijon Wine School.
The gauntlet was laid down with the inheritance/acquisition of 6.5 hectares just outside Pont de l’Isère in the heart of the Crozes Hermitage appellation; the challenge even more focused as the vines had been somewhat neglected.
With patience and industry Maxime has transformed the vineyard and increased the planting density by a factor of 200%. In the winery he has a head start, sharing his father’s facilities, and ageing his wines in old Burgundian casks, and yet, interestingly, he has adopted a subtly different approach when it comes to the winemaking, specifically to the racking of the wine ( to separate it from the fine lees) and the extent and manner of the aging.
As the vines come of age, so does the vigneron, and a string of excellent vintages proved his worth and to demonstrated that the Graillot dynasty is in very safe hands.
Syrah/Shiraz
A noble black grape variety grown particularly in the Northern Rhône where it produces the great red wines of Hermitage, Cote Rôtie and Cornas, and in Australia where it produces wines of startling depth and intensity. Reasonably low yields are a crucial factor for quality as is picking at optimum ripeness. Its heartland, Hermitage and Côte Rôtie, consists of 270 hectares of steeply terraced vineyards producing wines that brim with pepper, spices, tar and black treacle when young. After 5-10 years they become smooth and velvety with pronounced fruit characteristics of damsons, raspberries, blackcurrants and loganberries.
It is now grown extensively in the Southern Rhône where it is blended with Grenache and Mourvèdre to produce the great red wines of Châteauneuf du Pape and Gigondas amongst others. Its spiritual home in Australia is the Barossa Valley, where there are plantings dating as far back as 1860. Australian Shiraz tends to be sweeter than its Northern Rhône counterpart and the best examples are redolent of new leather, dark chocolate, liquorice, and prunes and display a blackcurrant lusciousness.
South African producers such as Eben Sadie are now producing world- class Shiraz wines that represent astonishing value for money.
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Description
2011, described modestly by Maxime, as an ‘easy’ vintage, has yielded a bright and pure wine, exhibiting clean and focused berry fruit, with blueberry and cassis to the fore, and a pleasing peppery twist at the end. The cool August weather has lent purity, well suited in my experience to a medium-term, uncomplicated but pleasing Crozes.
Simon Field MW, BBR Buyer
The progress made at this domaine since 2004 has been impressive indeed; the team of Maxime and his cerebral side-kick, Thomas Schmittel, has proved to be a winning one. On the subject of winning formulae, the winemaking employed for the Lises is also most impressive, subtly different from famous father Alain, with only partial destemming and 90% use of barrel. Maxime describes 2011 as a ‘restaurant’ vintage. We will be delighted to visit any restaurant where it is on the wine list.
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