Marlène & Nicolas Chevalier, Crozes-Hermitage (Rhône Valley, France) 2015

 This lovely Crozes shows very expressive aromas of violets and dark berry fruit, along with a savory note recalling cured charcuterie that carries through to the flavors.  Wood influence is either subtle or muted — depending on how one would prefer to phrase this — but the key point is that the gorgeously pure fruit was wisely permitted to hold center stage.  This is the first vintage of this wine that I’ve tasted, so I can’t say how representative this particular rendition may be, but I love how restrained the oak is, and how this was crafted to feature interplay between fresh Syrah flavors and savory terroir accents.  Delicious, and enduringly interesting, and wonderfully versatile with food thanks to a medium-bodied profile.