Domaine Combier, Crozes-Hermitage (Rhône Valley, France) 2018

 Domaine Combier focuses on making “joyful and charming wines” by focusing their efforts on the fruit in the vineyard and minimizing their influence in the winery.  In 1999, the winery invested heavily in concrete eggs to further their goal of making wine with minimal influence.  The eggs allow the lees to naturally stir, control oxygen, and impart no flavors on the wine.  The resulting wine shows black pepper-crusted cured meat and dark fruit, classic notes from Northern Rhône.