Domaine Chevalier Les Pends Crozes-Hermitage Blanc 2021

The Chevalier siblings, Marlène and Nicolas, continue to outdo themselves as makers of racy full-bodied Crozes-Hermitage Blanc, as their 2021 Domaine Chevalier Les Pends aptly attests. The 2021 Domaine Chevalier Les Pends Crozes-Hermitage cuts a fine figure in the glass with its crystalline brilliance and sensuous aroma. Scents of freshly cut pears, tropical fruits, savory spices, and vanilla bean all come to fore. In the mouth, the 2021 Les Pends Crozes-Hermitage is both round and racy, which captures the Marsanne varietal’s multiple facets: it’s robust in flavor with orchard and citrus fruit flavors, yet textured and precise on the finish. Think of Janus, the mythical Roman god of beginnings, transitions, and much more – that’s Domaine Chevalier’s 2021 Les Pends. For optimal enjoyment, we suggest allowing the unique 2021 Domaine Chevalier Les Pends Crozes-Hermitage from 100% Marsanne grapes to breathe a few minutes before consuming it moderately chilled (about 40°-45° F). However, some members may prefer this wine at an even more ambient temperature, but as you like it! Anticipated maturity: 2024-2026. Salut!

The finest white wines of the northern Rhône such as Domaine Chevalier’s 2021 Les Pends Crozes-Hermitage Blanc age well and offer splendid accompaniments to rich foods. Foie gras, terrines, cured meats, and the herbed infused fish and vegetable dishes so prominent in the cooking of southern France offer excellent choices to pair with this wine. Prosciutto wrapped honeydew melon makes a good starter. A shrimp and avocado salad and a spicy chicken salad made with, apple, coriander, and pecans also provide delightful accompaniments to this wine. Lobster and crab make great partners to the 2021 Les Pends Crozes-Hermitage, too. Thai and Vietnamese specialties can also provide excellent complements to this 2021 Chevalier Crozes-Hermitage Blanc as fresh spring rolls, stir fries, and light curries offer additional satisfying complements. Although white Rhône wine is not traditionally thought of as a sit around sipping kind of wine, the Chevaliers’ 2021 Les Pends Crozes-Hermitage Blanc provides a notable exception, especially when ripe pears and a few morsels of soft creamy cheeses are available to partner with it. Enjoy!

Marlène and Nicolas Chevalier farm four small vineyards in Crozes-Hermitage from which they make outstanding red and white Rhône offerings. Although diminutive in size, Domaine Chevalier is large in stature: the wines from their prized parcels have been garnering acclaim for more than three centuries and its red and white Crozes-Hermitage offerings are now benchmarks by which many of the wines of Crozes-Hermitage are measured.

At their meticulously tended family property, the Chevalier siblings specialize in the three traditional grape varietals of Crozes-Hermitage: Syrah for red wines and Marsanne and, most recently, Roussanne for white wines, from which they fashion a number of wines in tiny lots from individual sites. Each is a singular expression of either Syrah, Marsanne, or Roussanne. In the case of the Chevaliers’ 2021 Les Pends Crozes-Hermitage Blanc (the estate’s flagship white wine and this month’s feature), the wine emanates from a tiny vineyard plot whose production is highly allocated. Our club members and a handful of renowned restaurants in the United States are the primary North American recipients of this rare 100% Marsanne Rhône wine.

All of Domaine Chevalier’s fruit is hand harvested and great pains are taken by the Chevaliers to protect the environment, which means sustainable agricultural practices prevail. The result is a bevy of rare and unique wines of splendid character, depth, and texture. While Nicolas tends the vineyards and fashions each cuvée, Marlène handles all of the sales and marketing for Domaine Chevalier. Together, this brother and sister team provides an authentic taste of Crozes-Hermitage to those fortunate to acquire Domaine Chevalier’s well-crafted wines.

Crozes-Hermitage is located halfway between Lyon and Marseille, astride the swiftly flowing Rhône River as it makes haste to the Mediterranean. Its neighbors are Côte-Rôtie and the more famous appellation of Hermitage from which it draws its name as well as its spiritual calling. Crozes-Hermitage is the largest of the northern Rhône wine appellations with just over 3,000 acres. The climate is continental, unlike its counterparts in the southern Rhône, which means winters are cold and often wet, while summers are typically long and hot. The soil is a mixture of clay, sand, gravel, and highly prized galets roulés, the long flat stones that are most synonymous with Châteauneuf-du-Pape to the south. The climate and composition of the soil make the region’s grapes dig deep into the soil. Syrah is the most densely planted varietal in Crozes-Hermitage and the only legal red grape in the appellation. Marsanne and Roussanne are the two permitted white grape varietals. Although traditionally known for its full-bodied red wines, Crozes-Hermitage is today as highly regarded for its complex, aromatic white wines.