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Maxime Graillot

Crozes Hermitage

The son of Alain Graillot is making Crozes Hermitage that may come to rival the wines of his father.

Our notes:

Maxime Graillot, son of the legendary Alain Graillot (the man who put Crozes Hermitage on the fine wine map), has bought a vineyard very near to his father's and is now making his own wine in a purpose built, underground cellar, on the family property. In his earlier years Maxime showed little interest in wine but slowly discovered his calling through his travels across the globe. Maxime studied at the Dijon Wine School and worked in the wine industries of South Africa and California before finally returning home to start his own label.

Maxime's vineyard is near the village of Beaumont-Monteux in the most southeasterly part of Crozes Hermitage in a lieux dit (place/vineyard name) called les Pichéres. It is a cooler, later harvesting site to his fathers in Les Chene Verts. The soils here are full of gravel and alluvial stones and are (like Alain's vineyards) fast draining and low in clay. This lends itself to refined, aromatic Syrah with pronounced minerality. Planted in the 80s and 90s, the vineyard was in a dilapidated state when Maxime acquired it in 2004. The fruit was previously sold off to the local co-op. Maxime has converted the site to organic viticulture (herbicide and pesticide usage had previously been prescriptive), trellising has been upgraded and dead vines replaced. The soils had been heavily compacted by machine harvesting so a program of careful ploughing has commenced. The grapes are now hand harvested and yields are a fraction of what they were previously. In short Maxime has pulled out all stops to revive the site and to harvest fruit that will produce intense wines that speak of their origins.

Going from the tasting in Alain Graillot's cellar, to Maxime's, immediately next door, we were reminded of that great blues album 'Fathers & Sons' that brought together masters like Muddy Waters and Otis Spann with young turks like Mike Bloomfield and Paul Butterfield. Just like the younger artists on the album, it is clear that Maxime is inspired by his legendary father and yet at the same time he is clearly his own man.

While Alain is always there in the background to offer advice, Maxime's has a winemaking approach that differs in significant ways to his father. For example, there are no stems in the ferment and the fermenting wine hits the barrel a tad earlier. So how different are the final wines of the son to those of the father? There are some differences. Maxime's wines perhaps shows a bit more fruit and seductiveness in the flush of youth. And yet my overall impression was of similarities. As both Alain and Maxime pointed out to us in separate conversations, they both ultimately seek to produce wines of finesse and intensity that clearly reflect their origins (remember when Syrah was associated with finesse?). Everything else is tinkering at the edges. For those who want more winemaking detail: typically the crop is fully destemmed and receives a pre-fermentation cooling for three to five days. Vinification lasts three weeks, with twice-daily cap punching. Ageing is for about a year to 18 months in a mix of used Burgundian casks from domaines like Dujac, Arlot, and Romanée-Conti - a bit over a third one year-old casks, the rest a mix of 3 to 5 year-old casks.

Maxine Graillot is no rebel. He knows he has a great resource in his father and is taking full advantage of this relationship. He has also named his Estate Domaine des Lises after his mother (also an important influence on his winemaking). Yet it is clear talking with him and tasting his wine that this is a gifted and insightful winemaker (and person) that will clearly make his own mark over time. These wines are refined, racy and wonderful value. They are for lovers of cool climate Syrah. We warmly welcome him in to our portfolio.

Maxime Graillot

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Crozes Hermitage

Producer:

Maxime Graillot

Maxime Graillot Equinoxe Crozes Hermitage Rouge 2010

Distinctive yet unpretentious, this 100% Syrah hits all the right notes. Made for early drinking - vinified in tank and old wood, the finished wine is bottled in March following harvest. It's... read more

Product Code: 9023-750

Bottle size 750ml

Buy a straight or mixed dozen get 10% off!

$ 37.00 Single bottle price

$ 33.30 Mixed or straight dozens

More details Send to friend Review this wine

Region:

Crozes Hermitage

Producer:

Maxime Graillot

Maxime Graillot Domaine Des Lises Crozes Hermitage Rouge 2009

Bottled later than the Equinoxe and from the oldest vines this, as always this is a far more serious and complex Syrah. Oozing with opulence and joy de vivre fruit character, it's still very much... read more

Product Code: 9022-750

Bottle size 750ml

Buy a straight or mixed dozen get 10% off!

$ 49.00 Single bottle price

$ 44.10 Mixed or straight dozens

Maxime Graillot Domaine Des Lises Crozes Hermitage Rouge 2008

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Region:

Crozes Hermitage

Producer:

Maxime Graillot

Maxime Graillot Domaine Des Lises Crozes Hermitage Rouge 2008

DIAM cork. As always this is a far more serious red, bottled later and from the oldest vines. In 2008 it is a very elegant, pulpy and pure Crozes that has the weight and structure to age 3-5 years... read more

Product Code: 8256-750

Bottle size 750ml

Buy a straight or mixed dozen get 10% off!

$ 50.00 Single bottle price

$ 45.00 Mixed or straight dozens

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Region:

Crozes Hermitage

Producer:

Maxime Graillot

Maxime Graillot Cornas 2008

Limited. We have again secured a small parcel of this negociant cuvee that Graillot makes under the Equis label. The fruit comes from the vines of a family friend and are situated on the slopes of... read more

Product Code: 9024-750

Bottle size 750ml

Buy a straight or mixed dozen get 10% off!

$ 92.00 Single bottle price

$ 82.80 Mixed or straight dozens

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