Famille Combier, the finest winegrowers in Crozes-Hermitage?

The domaine Combier is a wine estate producing red wine (Syrah) and white wine (Marsanne, Roussanne) from the Northern Rhône Valley, in AOC Crozes-Hermitage and Saint-Joseph; every cuvée is a certified organic wine.

Pioneers of the organic movement, the Combiers have always followed a philosophy now widely embraced: they encourage plant life by working the soils manually and incorporating the lunar calendar. They place themselves at the service of nature to obtain the finest grapes: "It is nature that governs every gesture, not the other way round". All recent plantings (and those to come!) are made from massal selections.

Which wines from Domaine Combier should you buy?

Crozes-Hermitage whites have their aficionados, and the dry organic whites from the Combier family are among the finest in their appellation. Made from the Marsanne (80%) and Roussanne (20%) grape varieties, they have enjoyed uninterrupted success for many years, and each new vintage sells out very quickly, so eagerly is it awaited by regular customers. The rounded character of northern Rhône varieties combined with the freshness of granitic soils creates a sought-after balance that appeals to all. The white Crozes-Hermitage from domaine Combier is therefore essential for any enthusiast, who will not want to miss each new vintage despite its limited availability. There is even no need to cellar Crozes Combier: this white is already delicious after bottling.

The reds can be divided into two groups:

1. The very rare: a few bottles of Hermitage (red and white) and a few cases of red Saint-Joseph are small-scale productions made “for pleasure”, but are not truly representative of the family’s output. These are great wines for ageing, which one must eventually bring oneself to open.

2. The more accessible: a group made up of all the Crozes-Hermitage AOP wines from domaine Combier. They are impressively consistent, whether in older or newer vintages: quality rises steadily according to price and rarity:

- The “small”, fruit-driven cuvée is called "Cuvée Laurent", or "Cuvée L". It is the quintessential wine of fruit and immediate pleasure, made from 100% young Syrah and aged in concrete eggs to keep the lees in suspension through a vortex effect and give the wine explosive aromas of violet and red fruit, with soft, easy-drinking textures. The largest volumes of the domaine, and never a misstep!

- Next, the signature cuvée of the domaine embodies the family’s “quality-to-price expertise”, so faithfully are the aromas and organoleptic characteristics of Syrah expressed—sometimes requiring a few months or years of patience after bottling to deliver an immediate sensation of pleasure on tasting—while also offering masterful complexity (attack, mid-palate AND finish), absent from the “small” cuvée.

- Then comes the cuvée "Cap Nord", produced away from the domaine’s rounded river stones on unique granitic hillside soils, and dangerously close in quality (though not yet in price!) to a Côte-Rôtie.

- Finally, the famous Clos des Grives, a historic and legendary cuvée, always lives up to its promise for those patient enough to let it refine in a good cellar.

What are the characteristics of the wines from Domaine Combier?

Red wine: On the stony terraces of Crozes-Hermitage, Syrah finds in Laurent Combier’s hands an expression that is at once pure, vibrant and elegantly controlled. From demanding viticulture and precise vinification, this red perfectly embodies the modern, digestible style of the Northern Rhône Valley.
The colour is bright and intense.
The nose opens with aromas of blackberry, blackcurrant and black cherry, quickly lifted by characteristic notes of black pepper, fine spices and a subtle floral touch of violet. With aeration, a lightly smoky, mineral dimension adds complexity, especially when the wine has a few years of cellar ageing.
On the palate, the attack is clean and dynamic. The fruit is crisp, carried by beautiful natural freshness that gives the wine definition. The tannins, fine and perfectly integrated, structure the whole without heaviness. The ageing, precise and measured, supports the wine without dominating it, allowing the purity of the terroir to shine through.
The finish, long and savoury, combines black fruit, spices and an elegant mineral tension. A Combier-crafted Crozes-Hermitage is both accessible and distinguished, able to charm in its youth with its aromatic brightness while offering a few years of evolution to gain depth. Ideal with grilled beef, duck breast or southern-inspired cuisine with spicy accents.

White wine: An elegant ambassador for the whites of the Northern Rhône Valley, Laurent Combier’s white Crozes-Hermitage clearly reveals all the finesse of Marsanne and Roussanne grown on the appellation’s well-exposed slopes. From attentive ORGANIC viticulture and controlled vinification, this cuvée combines freshness, precision and aromatic depth.

The colour is pale yellow with light golden reflections.
The nose charms with its aromatic purity: nuances of fresh apricot and ripe pear, enhanced by a delicate floral touch and a subtle note of fresh almond. With aeration, a lightly lemony dimension and a saline hint bring beautiful balance.
On the palate, the attack is direct and dynamic. The texture is generous yet perfectly structured, supported by vibrant acidity that brings definition and a highly pleasant sense of tension (comparable to sweet-and-savoury balance in gastronomy). White fruit flavours linger elegantly, while fine minerality and a touch of sweet spice mark a long, refined finish.

The white Crozes-Hermitage combines indulgence, energy and sophistication: it can be enjoyed young for its brightness and freshness, or left to rest for a few years to gain complexity. A fine expression of northern Rhône white wine, pairing harmoniously with grilled fish, just-seared langoustines, or poultry in a cream sauce with fresh herbs.

How should you taste the wines from Domaine Combier?

The whites from domaine Combier are best enjoyed chilled, between 8 and 10°C according to preference, and pair easily with all simply warmed or grilled seafood, but also—and above all—with refined cuisine such as lobster or sole with beurre blanc, not forgetting fine Bresse poultry in sauce or a Rigotte de Condrieu.

The reds benefit from Syrah’s natural ease with food pairings, always served at around 17°C, provided the grape variety’s reductive side is avoided by aerating the wine in a decanter for a short time before tasting (except for an older vintage). Indeed, Syrah pairs readily with all kinds of cuisine, from the simplest to the most refined. A simple cuvée such as "Cuvée L" is preferable for a simple dish or even an aperitif, while Cap Nord or Clos des Grives, the nec plus ultra of the domaine, would be ideal with duck in blood sauce, for example!

Comparison table to choose the ideal cuvée: