Country:France  Region: Northern Rhône   Varietal: Syrah/Shiraz and Blends Vintage: 2011  Category: Red WineColour: Red Producer: Maison Nicolas Perrin "Maison Nicolas Perrin brings together the scions of two of the great families of the Rhône, Nicolas Jaboulet, formerly of the eponymous winery in Tain, and the Perrin family of Château de Beaucastel. This joint venture micro-négociant was created in 2009 with the sole aim of producing top quality Northern Rhône wines. Nicolas is able to source the best fruit and wines from growers and producers that he has formed a long standing relationship with, while the Perrin family bring expertise in winemaking and blending, as well as the use of their cellars.The partnership stems from a long standing friendship, a shared love of gastronomy and a philosophy to create wines that represent the best of their appellation. We were impressed by the precision of the wines which, allied with their modern style and the emphasis on fruit.The Crozes Hermitage Blanc is made solely from Marsanne. It is fresh with hints of honeysuckle and dried herbs and an appealing weight and complexity derived from the 10 months it spends in used barrels. The Syrah/Viognier is made with 98% Syrah with 2% Viognier to add finesse and softness. The Crozes Hermitage Rouge is fragrant and juicy with hints of black pepper, fine tannins and balanced acidity. Grapes for the Saint-Joseph are from the north of the appellation and also from the historical centre. The former give minerality and fruitiness, while the latter provide more flesh and body.The Côte Rôtie is round and velvety while still possessing the heady perfume of violets. The Hermitage Blanc is a blend of 70% Marsanne and 30% Roussanne, fermented separately then aged in new French oak for 10 months. This adds complexity and richness to the honeyed and ripe stone fruit aromas, while the quality of the fruit ensures an incredibly long finish. The Ermitage Red comes from a vineyard right above 'La Chapelle'. Nicolas Perrin only makes a few barrels of this wine each year. While more structured than the Côte Rôtie, it is restrained with aromas of red and black fruits, racy acidity and fine firm tannins that will soften with time. Like all of the Nicolas Perrin wines, this Ermitage is surprisingly approachable, yet we can also see the rewards of patience if this wine is left to develop, which it will do so beautifully." Winemaker: Marc Perrin & Nicolas Jaboulet Vineyards: The grapes used in this blend were sourced from a diversity of soils: complex and varied with granite in parts but also rolled pebbles and calcareous soils. The wines produced in the locality of "Grandes Vignes" where the soils are dominated by granite, are showing great minerality but also a nice tannin structure. This area represents 30% of the blend. The wines produced on the rolled pebbles (locality of "Greffieux") are aromatically rich and complex. They correspond to the backbone of the wine and represent 60% of the blend. Finally the calcareous soil in the locality of "Muret" brings elegance and finesse. These three types of soils are very complementary and they each bring a different element to the final blend. Vinification: The grapes were cold-macerated before being fermented for 28 days with pumping-over at the beginning followed by punching-down towards the end. The wine was then aged in new oak (30%) and in steel (70%) for 15 months. Tasting Notes: An intense ruby red. The nose is very rich with notes of black and red fruit, developing an intense complexity. On the palate, fresh blackberry flavours have a peppery edge. Medium-bodied, the Ermitage is well balanced and its powerful tannins will soften with cellaring. Food Suggestion: A great wine with red meats, either grilled or braised in casseroles. Closure: Natural Cork  ABV: 14%  Classification: AOP