Finot, Thomas 2019 Crozes-Hermitage Rouge

Thomas Finot, who is resurrecting forgotten vineyards and varieties in the Isère, is also making brilliant wines from his tiny family vineyard in Crozes-Hermitage. He has 1.8 hectare of old vines in Larnage on a hillside with granite and limestone subsoils under interesting topsoils of white clay (kaolin). The Crozes-Hermitage is a delicious Syrah showing lush aromas of black cherry and black raspberry liqueur, with hints of blueberry and earth. The palate is elegant and dense, but not over-ripe,  perfectly balanced with cherry, black raspberry and red currant fruits with citrus notes in the long well-structured finish.