The Lelektsoglou Rhone's Are Getting Top, Top Scores - 94 Point Crozes Today from Next to Hermitage

 2020 Compagnie de L'Hermitage (Lelektsoglou) Crozes-Hermitage "Vieilles Vignes Gervans"

 - Right Behind Hermitage

 - Grapes from a "Very Famous Winemaker" 

 - 100+ Year Old Vines

 - Insane Concentration, Complexity and Balance

 - 160 Cases Made

 - 2020 Vintage of the Century but Cool Climate Vibe

 - Competes Quality-Wise with Hermitage at Twice the Price

 - USA Exclusive

 - Dense Yet Delicate

 - Huge Structure But Yet Again So Delicate

 - From Gervans Which Is Locally Known as "petit Hermitage"

 - 2019 94 Jeb Dunnuck

Is The Greek and Sons the Best Producer in the Rhone? 

2019 Compagnie L'Hermitage Chateauneuf-du-Pape "lieu dit Pignan - 99 points Jeb (“"It might be the closest thing to an older Rayas . . ."

2019 Trois Freres St. Joseph - 96+ Jeb (Top St. Jo Score in 2019 According to Jeb - yes, it beat Gonon)

2019 Compagnie L'Hermitage Cairanne - 92 points Jeb Dunnuck. Top 3 Best Value Cairanne in 2019

and today's wine . . . .

2019 Compagnie de L'Hermitage (Lelektsoglou) Crozes-Hermitage "Vieilles Vignes Gervans" 94 Points from Jeb Dunnuck - the 2nd highest rated Crozes in 2019. (I'm selling the 2020 today).

"Where 2019 is more in the style of 2015 and 2009, the 2020s have a seamlessness and suppleness that brings to mind 2018 and 2016." - Jeb Dunnuck on 2020

I know I blow up all your inboxes with with tons of Rhone wines but the wines made by the
Greek under his wine shop’s label are some of the most special and also you’re not getting these from anywhere else. All of them drink higher than what they are supposed to and I have a special place in my heart for today’s wine as there is no Crozes like it. I could nail it blind in a lineup of 20 Crozes. The distinctive dark fruit character combined with the deep granitic character is just unmistakable. This is simply put a wine that drinks like $80 and costs $42. But it’s more than that. It’s unique in that it leverages a historical wine shop and a person that is so ingrained into the history of the region and development of the region that this wine is almost a cheat code. Do not miss this.

Today I am privileged to sell the 2020 Compagnie l'Hermitage Crozes-Hermitage (Lelektsoglou) Vielles Vignes de Gervans for $41.99 a bottle on a 4-pack. The vines are very old (100 years plus) from an area called Gervans which is right behind Hermitage. The granite soils of Gervans are parallel to the great Hermitage Les Bessards. It's better than most Hermitage. It’s a top 3 Crozes since its debut in 15. There is no other Crozes like it. I’d rather have one bottle of this than 10 cases of Alain Graillot which seems to be the only Crozes available in most markets and I find it very mediocre. The area is called "petit Hermitage" by the locals. It's 5-10 minute drive from Hermitage central. There is no oak on the wine (steel vats) and Georges selects and vinifies the wine his way. The vines and terroir are from a very famous winemaker which is all I can say. There are only 2,000 bottles produced. Then it's gone. This is from very old vines and from arguably the top sector of Crozes-Hermitage. I just offered the last of the 2019 and now 2020 is here and it's crazy. Like a blend of 2010 and 2015.

The nose is just insane. Huge and generous with deep berry/black cherry fruit and crushed deep granite. Gamey, spicey, so comforting, gravy, pepper. White and black spice. So so complex. Olive. Huge granite. This is so deep, nuanced and very layered. Almost lurid. Dark flowers and mint. It's an amazing nose and transcends Crozes for how dark, serious and meaty it is. So complete. There is no way in hell anybody would ever guess Crozes blind. No way. It's too noble and has too much breeding. Really inky color only adds the allure.

The palate is so deep yet so harmonious. Blackberry, black cherry fruit on a bed of granite. Stunning inner mouth aromas and one of those finishes that begins when you think it's going to end. Juicy and sensual with a musky inner mouth perfume. Big black and blue fruits. Opulent and rich but also fresh and energetic. . Palate is a wonder. Super juicy and decadent but allied with terrific freshness and a smoking granitic finish also with notes of game, herbs and olive. So sappy and juicy with incredible density and sweetness. Awesome texture as well. Huge mineral spine. Stunningly well made wine that is absolutely delicious. Just lingers on the palate. This is top, top class Crozes. More like a Hermitage. So long. Amazing freshness and a granite expression like no other. The balance is extraordinary as well as the level of concentrated dense fruit. This is what Crozes can and will be. Crozes is the new St. Joseph. With the right terroir, old vines and sparing no expense (that's why only 2,000 bottles made as only the best for this wine) you can make world class and age-worthy wine (15+ years) from Crozes-Hermitage. This is as expected very limited.

"The 2019 Crozes-Hermitage Vieilles Vignes De Gervans showed beautifully, with a bright, lively, yet powerful style offering lots of blue and black fruits, candied violets, pepper, and crushed stone. It has a real sense of minerality, medium to full body, beautiful purity, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It's not your standard Crozes-Hermitage from the lower plains and will have two decades or more of overall longevity.." - 94 Points, Jeb Dunnuck (2019)