Domaine Des Combat 2018 Crozes-Hermitage, Rhone Valley

This family has been tilling the land in this region since the late 1700s, and began to focus on only viticulture in the early 1980s. In 2017 they stopped selling fruit and began to bottle under their own family label. In 2020 Sandra Combat took over, (the first female in the families history) and the wines are showing so beautifully. Made from 100% Syrah from France's northern Rhone region of Saint-Joseph, this is a Syrah that has plenty of savory happening. So lots of briny cured black olives, bacon, violets and black fruit. Medium weight in the glass, there is some upfront plum, more florals and then in comes the black pepper. This wine is begging for lamb, braised meats or a nice fatty steak off the grill.