Domaine Combier - Clos des Grives - Jeroboam 2024
South of the Crozes-Hermitage appellation, in the commune of Pont-de-l'Isère, Domaine Combier owns one of the historic vineyards of the northern Rhône valley. The family has cultivated these lands for several generations and distinguished itself by its early commitment to organic farming, since 1969. Today, Laurent Combier and his sons Julien and David continue this family adventure by prioritizing the precision of vinifications and the expression of their different terroirs. Clos des Grives is the historic heart of the property, with a vineyard of about nine hectares surrounded by a natural hedge. Its oldest plots, planted in 1952, take root in a clay-limestone plateau covered with rolled pebbles, characteristic of this southern part of Crozes-Hermitage. The heat accumulated by these pebbles favors the ripening of Syrah, while the nature of the soils contributes to the structure and depth of the wine. The emblematic cuvée of the estate, Clos des Grives has a personality that combines the generosity of the fruit with remarkable tannic finesse, with an aging potential that distinguishes it within the appellation.
The Clos des Grives 2024 is made exclusively from Syrah coming from this historic plot, whose old vines benefit from naturally limited yields. The vineyard is managed organically, continuing a family commitment that has deeply marked the estate's identity. The harvest is done manually, with a selective sorting intended to keep only grapes presenting the desired maturity and sanitary condition. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks, allowing temperature control and preserving the aromatic precision of the grape variety. The wine then benefits from twelve months of aging in Burgundy barrels of different ages, to develop its structure without letting the wood dominate the expression of the terroir. An additional year of bottle aging traditionally completes this maturation before marketing. The 2024 vintage, marked in the Rhône valley by contrasting climatic conditions, should highlight the freshness of Syrah and the finesse of its structure. Presented in a three-liter jeroboam, this Clos des Grives benefits from a format particularly favorable to slow and harmonious evolution, while offering an exceptional dimension for great occasions.
The Clos des Grives 2024 should reveal a deep aromatic expression, combining blackberry, blackcurrant, and black cherry with nuances of violet, freshly ground pepper, and delicate spices. Upon aeration, slightly smoky notes, licorice, and black olive could gradually enrich this bouquet, revealing the full personality of northern Syrah. On the palate, the material promises to be generous, supported by a precise tannic framework whose finesse is one of the signatures of this cuvée. The natural freshness of the vintage should bring momentum to this structure, preserving a harmonious balance between concentration and elegance. The finish promises to be persistent, extended by black fruits, spices, and a delicate mineral sensation. Thanks to its depth and large format, this jeroboam has a particularly interesting aging potential, allowing the wine to gradually develop nuances of leather, undergrowth, and truffle. It will wonderfully accompany a matured rib of beef, a roasted rack of lamb with thyme, pigeon with cep mushrooms, or royal hare, gastronomic preparations worthy of its structure and complexity.
Grape variety: 100% Syrah
