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Crozes-Hermitage without the oak, letting the fruit speak
When we think of the Northern Rhône, we often picture powerful Syrah, peppery aromas and wines built for years in the cellar.
But Syrah does not always have to be serious, heavily structured or marked by oak.
The “Les Coulaires” 2024 from Domaine Vendome offers a fresher, more generous interpretation of Crozes-Hermitage—one where the fruit and the texture take centre stage.
And there is one particularly important detail: there is no oak involved.
Crozes-Hermitage, the approachable side of the Northern Rhône
Crozes-Hermitage is the largest appellation of the Northern Rhône, surrounding the more prestigious Hermitage vineyards.
It is a region where Syrah can express itself with remarkable diversity.
Depending on the soils, exposure and winemaking, Crozes-Hermitage can be elegant and floral, juicy and fruit-driven, or much more structured and powerful.
Les Coulaires belongs to the first camp.
It is generous, fresh and wonderfully easy to drink, while still unmistakably northern Rhône.
One grape: 100% Syrah
There is no mystery about the grape variety here.
Les Coulaires is 100% Syrah, from vines more than 40 years old.
The vineyards are located around Larnage and Mercurol, on a mixture of clay-limestone soils, rounded pebbles and loess.
These soils contribute to a wine that has both substance and freshness.
But the winemaking is equally important.
Why total destemming matters
The grapes are entirely destemmed before fermentation.
That might sound like a technical detail, but it has a significant influence on the final wine.
Stems can contribute tannin, structure and sometimes herbal or spicy notes to a wine.
By removing them completely, Domaine Vendome allows the texture to become softer and the fruit to take a more prominent role.
The result is a Syrah with fine, supple tannins rather than a firm, rustic structure.
It is a style that makes the wine incredibly approachable.
And then there is the concrete
The wine is fermented and aged entirely in raw concrete vats.
No oak barrels.
No vanilla.
No toast.
No additional woody character.
Concrete is an increasingly interesting vessel in modern winemaking because it allows the wine to evolve without imposing a strong flavour of its own.
For Les Coulaires, this is particularly effective.
The wine remains focused on the Syrah itself: its fruit, freshness, spice and natural texture.
After around three weeks of maceration and fermentation, the wine spends ten months in concrete before bottling.
A new generation in Larnage
Domaine Vendome is rooted in the agricultural history of Larnage.
The Vendome farm has existed for more than a century, with the family traditionally working orchards of apricots and cherries alongside lavender and truffles.
Since 2020, a new generation has brought a fresh energy to the estate, developing around fifteen hectares of vineyards.
It is an interesting evolution.
The family is not abandoning its agricultural heritage—it is adding a new chapter to it.
And the philosophy remains the same: work the land carefully and allow each parcel to express its identity.
A Crozes-Hermitage for the table
The 2024 Les Coulaires is bright, juicy and generous, with the kind of fine tannins that make you want another sip rather than another decade of patience.
The Syrah brings ripe red and dark fruit, while the absence of oak keeps everything fresh and uncomplicated.
It is the sort of Northern Rhône red that can move effortlessly from a plate of spaghetti with tomato sauce to a generous piece of grilled or roasted red meat.
There is enough character to remind you where it comes from, but enough softness to make it immediately enjoyable.
Why we love it at The French Paradox
Sometimes, great winemaking is about knowing what not to add.
No oak.
No unnecessary extraction.
No excessive tannin.
Just Syrah, carefully grown and given the right conditions to express itself.
Domaine Vendome “Les Coulaires” 2024 is a lovely reminder that Crozes-Hermitage does not always have to be powerful and austere.
Sometimes, the Northern Rhône can simply be fresh, juicy, precise and incredibly delicious.
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