Crozes-Hermitage (16) Domaine des Combat

February 21, 2025February 26, 2025 jamiegoode 1093 Views crozes-hermitage, Northern Rhone

Sandra Combat is quite a character. She was a brand ambassador for Mouton Cadet in China, where she lived for a year. And she speaks Mandarin fluently (she learned it in high school). ‘My parents always pushed me,’ she says. ‘It was a choice to come back.’ She did a masters visiting 24 different countries. She was in China when Covid hit and she came back here and now stays here and says she is happier than ever.

Combat used to be part of the Cave de Tain, and have 20 hectares in Crozes-Hermitage, 3 of which are white. All of them are around the winery which is a modern operation created in 2017 in a large new warehouse. She describes it as a classical technological winery, and all the equipment is French, with the exception of some Stockinger barrels from Austria.

Domaine des Combat Crozes-Hermitage Blanc 2023
90% Marsanne from Les Pends with gravel and sand with some clay, around 30 year olds. In Mercurol we are really proud of our white wines, and our village party every year is Fete Vins Blancs. Rousanne is young vineyards on loess in Larnage. Fermented and aged in oak (2/3) and one-third in stainless steel. Nice presence here with the emphasis on the pear and white peach fruit. Juicy and linear with a lovely freshness on the finish, showing good acidity that sits well with the ripe fruit. 92/100

For the red wines, the idea is to have three different moments of consumption, says Sandra. We can do fruity easy drinking wine, and we can also do structured, serious wine.

Domaine des Combat Bacchus Crozes-Hermitage 2022
13.5% alcohol. 15 years old vines, 15 days maceration. This is bright and energetic with nice meaty hints as well as some olive tapenade, with a core of sweet berry fruits and then some black cherry. Has good structure and density but retains its drinkability. Captures the place well. 92/100

Domaine des Combat Crozes-Hermitage 2022
Terrasses de Châssis, maceration in tronconic vats for 30 days. This has nice depth and energy with bright cherries and plums, with some nice tannins and hints of meat and pepper. Generous and bold with lovely local character, finishing bright with a spicy flourish. 93/100

Domaine des Combat Crozes-Hermitage Cuvée Exception’elle 2020
This is a parcel selection, with the best parcel from each vintage, matured in oak. This came from Les Cros. Complex soil, deep with gravels, sand, clay and limestone. In a hot vintage it retains moisture. 50 year old vines. One year in oak (25% new). Concentrated and dense with bold berry fruits, some spicy warmth, and then some herbal hints on the finish. This has nice structure. It’s a little awkward at the moment, but could really blossom in a few years. 93/100

Domaine des Combat
580 route de l’Abricotine – 26600 Mercurol
+33 (0) 6 13 13 38 00

CROZES-HERMITAGE

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