Château De La Gardine, Brunel De La Gardine Crozes-Hermitage, 2024
Château De La Gardine, Brunel De La Gardine Crozes-Hermitage, 2024
- 75cl
- 13.5%
- Red Still
- Syrah
- Organic
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Optimal drinking window: 2026 - 2035
Château de la Gardine is best known as a serious force in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, but their Brunel de la Gardine range reaches north into Crozes-Hermitage with real conviction. This 2024 is Syrah doing what the northern Rhône does best: brooding and savoury, with that telltale combination of dark fruit and cured meat that makes the appellation so compelling. It is not a wine trying to be Hermitage — it is honest, generous, and built for the table.
The 2024 vintage in the Rhône brought cooler conditions and good freshness, and you can taste it here: the wine has energy and definition without sacrificing the warmth that makes Crozes so drinkable.
Right now, the 2024 is showing youthful primary fruit with good energy — it is absolutely drinkable and very enjoyable at the table. Over the next two to three years, the tannins will soften and the smoked meat and earthy complexity will begin to take centre stage. By 2028-2030 it should be at its most complete, with fruit, savouriness, and structure all in balance. Beyond 2035, the freshness that defines this vintage may begin to fade, so we would not push it much further than that.
Tasting Notes
AppearanceDeep ruby-purple with a lively, youthful rim.
NoseDark plum and blackberry lead, then smoked meat and cracked black pepper emerge with a little air. There is a stony, almost iron-like quality underneath that anchors everything.
PalateMedium-full bodied with firm but well-integrated tannins and good acidity keeping things fresh. The fruit is ripe but not heavy — more dark cherry than jam — with olive and dried herb adding savoury depth.
FinishClean and persistent, with a dry, peppery kick that lingers pleasingly.
Overall impressionA well-made, characterful Crozes with northern Rhône identity written clearly across it.
Food Pairings
In the Drôme and around Tain-l'Hermitage, Syrah is the natural companion to slow-braised lamb shoulder seasoned with herbes de Provence and finished with black olives. Grilled merguez or a proper daube of beef with a glass of this is the kind of pairing that makes you wonder why you ever eat anything else. Locals would also reach for a platter of charcuterie — rosette de Lyon, saucisson sec — with this style of wine without a second thought. A lentil dish from nearby Le Puy, dressed with walnut oil and lardon, would also be a very fine match.
We think this wine would go well with
Serve at around 16-17°C — cool enough to keep the freshness alive, warm enough to let the fruit open. A 30-minute decant will do it good in its youth, softening the edges and allowing the peppery aromatics to bloom. A standard Bordeaux-style glass works well, though a slightly wider bowl gives the Syrah character more room to breathe.
Crozes-Hermitage surrounds the famous granite hill of Hermitage on all sides, and soils vary considerably across the appellation. The better sites sit on granite and gneiss with sandy decomposed rock, which keeps Syrah fresh and gives the wines their characteristic grip and mineral definition. The continental climate here — cold winters, hot summers, and the cooling influence of the Mistral — concentrates flavour while preserving the acidity that makes these wines age.
Crozes-Hermitage is the largest appellation in the northern Rhône, wrapping around the iconic hill of Hermitage like an embrace it can never quite match. Syrah dominates for reds, with Marsanne and Roussanne permitted for whites. The wines are typically more approachable and more fairly priced than Hermitage itself, though the best sites — particularly around Mercurol and Gervans — produce reds of genuine substance. Think of it as Hermitage's more sociable sibling: less brooding, more ready to talk.
The 2024 vintage in the Rhône arrived after a growing season that kept everyone guessing. Spring brought its share of rain, which replenished soils after previous dry years, but summer turned properly hot with several intense spells that had growers scrambling to protect their fruit. The saving grace came from cool nights that preserved acidity, and crucially, harvest conditions stayed dry and stable when it mattered most. Syrah and Grenache both ripened well, though yields varied considerably depending on how effectively each domaine managed the heat stress.
What emerged from the cellars shows all the hallmarks of a warm vintage done right: the reds have immediate appeal with ripe, fleshy fruit and supple tannins, whilst the whites display surprising freshness alongside their generous stone fruit flavours. Northern Rhône Syrah has produced wines with real depth and concentration, and we're particularly impressed by how the southern blends have retained their characteristic garrigue perfume despite the challenging conditions. Most 2024 reds are drinking beautifully now and will continue to develop until 2032, making this a vintage that rewards both early drinking and patient cellaring.
FAQs
What does this wine taste like?
Dark plum, smoked meat, cracked black pepper, and a stony mineral quality. It is savoury and firm rather than fruit-forward, with the classic northern Rhône Syrah character coming through clearly.
When is the best time to drink this wine?
It is drinking well now and will continue to develop until around 2030-2032. If you can give it 30 minutes in a decanter before pouring, so much the better.
What food should I serve with this?
Slow-braised lamb, grilled merguez, charcuterie, or a hearty lentil dish with bacon. Anything with a bit of fat and savouriness will make a very good match.
Is this worth cellaring?
It will reward three to five years in the cellar, developing more complexity and softer tannins. Much beyond 2035 and the freshness of the vintage may start to soften more than you would want.
How does this compare to Hermitage?
Crozes-Hermitage surrounds the famous hill of Hermitage but rarely reaches its intensity or longevity. Think of this as the more approachable, food-friendly version — excellent value for what is genuinely a serious northern Rhône Syrah.
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