Domaine Laurent Combier

The family history of the Laurent Combier estate

In the 1960s, Maurice and Paulette, Laurent's parents, set up as farmers in the nearby commune of Pont de l'Isère. In 1970, they decided to invest their time and money in healthy, organic arboriculture and viticulture. In 1990, Laurent Combier and his wife Ghislaine took over the estate, which then comprised 5 hectares of vines and 15 hectares of fruit trees. Having just graduated in viticulture-oenology, he decided, with the support of his parents, to build his own wine-making and ageing cellar. His goal was to create his own vision of Crozes Hermitage wines, and to reach the summit with Clos des Grives, a wine that is now iconic in the appellation. 25 years later, Laurent Combier's sons David and Julien join their father at the domaine. Both have the same energy and passion as their father. The eldest, Julien, has been illustrating his passion for the Crozes-Hermitage terroir, its viti-cultural practices and, above all, its winemaking spirit since 2014. David, the younger son, has a wealth of experience in marketing and winemaking in some of the world's greatest wine-growing regions, and brings a fresh vision and the bite of youth. David and Julien, accompanied by Laurent, gradually take their place at the heart of the family estate.

The Laurent Combier estate vineyard

Years of practice and observation have enriched Domaine Combier's know-how. The common thread remains that of Syrah, the king of Rhone Valley grapes. The work carried out in the cellar is a perfect illustration of this constant quest for the best for the wines. In 1990, Laurent opted for thermo-regulated stainless steel vats. In 1999, Marc Nomblot's concrete eggs entered the cellar: "They encourage Brownian movement and allow better suspension of the lees, accentuating the finesse of the tannins". In 2001, the new concrete vats arrive: "They allow us to work on punching down with greater finesse, and oxygenation of the wines is slower". Historically, wood - barriques or demi-muids - has always been present at the winery for all its natural oxygenation qualities. In 2017, the winery is being expanded once again, with the aim of refining the parcel-based work and ensuring that each cuvée is the right combination of all these choices. "We find the finesse of Pinot Noir in great Burgundies magical, and that's what we want to convey in our wines. We also like them to flow straight." Even if each cuvée retains its own style, there's always a straightforwardness and elegance to the fruit, aromas and tannins. For the record, Domaine Combier also supplies the apricots used to make Abricot du Roulot, Jean-Marc Roulot's famous Burgundy liqueur.

AOC Crozes Hermitage wines from domaine Laurent Combier

Cuvée L

The Cuvée L range in Crozes-Hermitage is intended as a range of "pleasure" wines. The red Cuvée L is mainly made from young vines, and is a wine that Laurent Combier has made accessible to all. Cuvée L white, in Crozes-Hermitage, is a 100% Marsanne. Its minerality and liveliness make it an ideal aperitif wine.

Classic range

The classic Domaine Combier range, in Crozes-Hermitage, is also available in red and white. The expression is faithful to the appellation. Structure, soft tannins, fruitiness and roundness reflect the terroir. The classic Domaine Combier cuvée, in Crozes-Hermitage, is 80% Marsanne and 20% Roussanne. It's the perfect table wine: "The exuberance of the Roussanne is tempered by the minerality of the Marsanne. Richness harmonizes with uprightness", describes the Combier family. The Cap Nord cuvée was born in 2010. It's a Crozes-Hermitage made from a parcel selection of vines in the northern part of the appellation. A superb blend of concentration and finesse. Its freshness and intensity give it great ageing potential.

Clos des Grives

Clos des Grives, has become a benchmark among the great wines of the Northern Rhône Valley. It's a cuvée born of craftsmanship and absolutely unique. Requiring time, it always benefits from an additional year of ageing once bottled. This wine stands out for its depth, the fullness of its substance and the finesse of its structure. Generous and greedy in its youth, it takes on the perfect expression of taffeta wine over the years and even decades.