Provenance

Private Client

Critics Ratings

2012:
‘Deep cherry red. Gleaming. Herbal and peppery – inviting and lively. Just a touch reductive (struck match) but none the worse for that. On the palate, again slightly herbal but also deep and firm. Still young but not in the least tough.’ - Julia Harding MW, JancisRobinson.com, 17/20 (Sep 2015)

‘Very solid, with a core of licorice, plum cake and raspberry coulis, all framed with singed alder and tobacco notes. The dark, smoldering finish is lined with a hint of white pepper, adding range and contrast. Drink now through 2018.’ - James Molesworth, Wine Spectator, 92/100 (Oct 2014)

‘Opaque ruby. Sexy, mineral-accented aromas of black raspberry, potpourri and Asian spices. Juicy, sappy and densely packed, offering intense red and dark berry liqueur and floral pastille flavors enlivened by zesty acidity. Vibrant, appealingly sweet Crozes with excellent focus, harmonious tannins and strong finishing cut.’ - Josh Raynolds, Vinous, 92/100 (Mar 2014)

2015:
‘Lurid ruby. Sexy, intensely perfumed aromas of dark fruit preserves, smoky minerals, exotic spices and olive paste. Silky and sweet on the palate, offering concentrated blackberry, bitter cherry and spicecake flavors enlivened by a jolt of smoky minerality. Shows excellent clarity and spicy lift on the seamless, strikingly persistent finish, which leaves a cherry liqueur note behind.’ – Josh Raynolds, Vinous, 93/100 (Apr 2018)

‘Inky and dark-hearted. Peppery intensity with just a touch of charry reduction just now. Powerful and concentrated but – for now – less drinkable than the standard Croze-Hermitage.’ – Julia Harding MW, JancisRobinson.com, 17++/20 (Jun 2017)

‘La Guiraude is simply a barrel selection of Graillot's Crozes Hermitage. The 2015 Crozes Hermitage la Guiraude is darker and meatier than the regular cuvée, offering notes of black cherries, soy sauce and roasted meat. It's full-bodied and dense, packed with flavor and richness, and long and velvety on the finish.’ - Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate, 94/100 (Dec 2017)

2017:
‘Still youthful aromatically – a creamy seductive mouthfeel – tight tannins, gunflint and lapsang souchong notes. Good levels of acidity keep it tense. Still tight but just beginning to express itself.’ – Alistair Cooper MW, JancisRobinson.com, 17.5/20 (Sep 2021)

‘Gorgeously open now, it's surprising this hasn't closed down. Complex, slightly meaty nose, well-defined, backed up with berry fruits. Medium-bodied, very dry and serious on the palate, fresh. Bold and muscular fruit, the tannins are juicy and rounded, quite grand, large scale. Great textural presence on the tongue. Very good indeed, more stuffing, depth and structure than a typical Crozes.’ – Matt Walls, Decanter.com, 93/100 (Sep 2021)

‘Opaque ruby. Powerful, mineral-accented black and blue fruit, olive and allspice aromas are energized by a suave floral overtone. Fleshy, juicy and broad in the mouth, offering concentrated black currant, cherry liqueur, fruitcake and floral pastille flavors that tighten up with aeration. Densely packed yet energetic as well, finishing with sharp delineation, steadily building tannins and excellent persistence.’ – Josh Raynolds, Vinous, 94/100 (Mar 2020)