Domaine Alain Graillot

Crozes-Hermitage, Northern Rhône

Represented by Antoine and Maxime Graillot

Grand Tasting Wines:
Crozes Hermitage Domaine Alain Graillot 2019

Crozes Hermitage "La Guiraude" 2019

Crozes Hermitage Domaine des Lises 2019

Crozes Hermitage "La Guiraude" 2009

Domaine Alain Graillot is a well-regarded wine producer located in Crozes-Hermitage in the northern Rhône. Alain Graillot founded the domaine in 1985, releasing his first vintage from a rented vineyard. The domaine quickly rose to prominence and only three years after its establishment, Graillot purchased the vineyards he had been renting.

Today, Graillot makes a range of predominantly Syrah-based wines in Crozes-Hermitage, Hermitage, and Saint-Joseph. The estate comprises around 22 hectares (54 acres) of vineyard land planted mostly to Syrah with about 3 hectares (seven acres) planted to the white varieties Marsanne and Roussanne.

The Syrah from Graillot's Crozes-Hermitage vineyard was planted in 1973 on well-draining soils made of sand, gravel, and alluvial stones. Graillot also owns two parcels planted to Syrah in Saint-Joseph and a tiny plot in Hermitage.

The vineyards are all farmed organically and fruit is hand-harvested. After harvest, red grapes are whole-cluster fermented in lined concrete vats.

The wines are aged one year in mostly old oak barrels and are lightly filtered but not fine. La Guiraude from Crozes-Hermitage is Alain Graillot's top wine and is only bottled in the best vintages. The total production of the domaine is around 10,000 cases annually.

Alain Graillot retired in 2008 and passed away a few years later. His sons Antoine and Maxime (who also runs Domaine des Lises) took over the estate.