Les Champs Libres Crozes Hermitage Rouge 2020

Location: France, Rhône, Crozes-Hermitage

Winemaker: René-Jean Dard & Hervé Souhaut

Grapes: Syrah

Soil: clay, gravel, alluvial

Winemaking: After a short maceration, the wine was fermented and aged in barrel. 

Crozes-Hermitage: After not producing a négociant Crozes-Hermitage for many years, René-Jean Dard struck up an agreement in 2020 with a young farmer working organically. The wine was vinified by René-Jean himself à la Dard & Ribo.

From the importer Louis/Dressner: Les Champs Libres is a small négociant run by René-Jean Dard. It used to be be more wine-centric, but over the years has branched out to include canned seafoods, local charcuterie, beer, sake and even sherry.

The grapes are sourced from organically tended vineyards, and vinified without manipulation or intervention. Hervé Souhaut is a frequent collaborator and often takes care of the vines and vinifications while René-Jean is responsible for selling the final product. Past releases have included a methode traditionelle and still Saint-Peray as well as a Crozes-Hermitage we still get occasional requests for.