Domaine de Entrefaux Crozes-Hermitage Blanc 2019

Location: France, Rhône, Crozes-Hermitage

Winemaker: Charles & François Tardy

Grapes: Marsanne, Roussanne

Soil: clay limestone

Winemaking: hand-harvested fruit, fermented with native yeasts; aged half in barrel, half in barrique

Crozes-Hermitage Blanc: We love white wines from the Rhône, and this will always remind us why: the delicate balance of creamy, apple-y richness to racing acidity. This will pair with your favorite soup, regardless of what soup it is.

From us at M&L: In 1979, Charles-Jean Tardy, who’s family had been growing grapes for generations made the family’s first estate-bottled Crozes-Hermitage. Crozes-Hermitage is the largest appellation in the northern Rhône, known for years of overcropping by local négociants. The Tardy’s were blessed with vines in Les Chassis and Mercurol in the village of Chanos-Curson, planted to pebbly limestone terraces with great low yields.

Since 2000 they made the switch to all organic farming, certified in 2012. In 2002, Charles’ son François and his wife Martine joined the estate. Now the entire operation uses many holistic treatments in the vineyards—teas, natural composts and covercrops to encourage the healthy growth of microorganisms in the soils. All fruit is hand-harvested. Fermentations are with native yeasts in traditional concrete kept at cooler temperatures. The wines age for at least a year, some in cement, some in barrel, and some in egg-shaped cement tank.