Domaine Laurent Fayolle, Crozes-Hermitage, Sens, 2024
Domaine Laurent Fayolle, Crozes-Hermitage, Sens, 2024
- 75cl
- 12.5%
- Red Still
- Syrah
- Organic
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Optimal drinking window: 2026 - 2032
Laurent Fayolle is one of the most exciting addresses in Crozes-Hermitage right now, and 'Sens' is their entry-point cuvée in the best possible sense. It's not a second wine, but a deliberate expression of young Syrah from the flatter, more granitic soils that surround the granite hill of Hermitage itself. It's a wine that leads with energy rather than weight: dark cherry and violet up front, then that signature northern Rhône pepper and a cool, almost iron-edged mineral quality running underneath.
The 2024 vintage in the northern Rhône was marked by freshness and lifted aromatics, and 'Sens' wears that vintage character well. It's not trying to be Hermitage — it's more nimble than that, with a juicy, savoury pull that makes it genuinely good at the table.
Right now, 'Sens' is in its most open and expressive phase. The primary fruit is front and centre and the tannins are supple enough to drink without ceremony. Over the next two to three years, that crunchy cherry freshness will begin to knit together with the savoury, mineral elements, giving the wine a more coherent, composed character. By around 2028 to 2029 it should be at its most complete, with the pepper and iron notes more integrated and a little more complexity on the finish. Hold it past 2032 and you risk losing the freshness that makes it charming in the first place; this is a wine to drink in its prime, not to squirrel away indefinitely.
Tasting Notes
AppearanceBright, translucent ruby-purple with a lively, youthful rim.
NoseCrunchy dark cherry and fresh violet lead, with the cool, cracked-pepper lift that is the northern Rhône's calling card. There's a subtle iron and graphite edge underneath that gives it definition without weight.
PalateMedium-bodied and nimble rather than broad, with juicy acidity and finely grained tannins that give structure without austerity. Dark cherry, olive tapenade, and a savoury, almost meaty quality emerge as it opens up in the glass.
FinishClean and persistent, with pepper and a cool mineral thread that lingers well beyond the fruit.
Overall impressionA Crozes that earns its place at the table through energy and precision rather than sheer scale.
Food Pairings
In the northern Rhône, this style of Syrah is practically made for the local charcuterie tradition — particularly saucisson sec and the dried, aged sausages that come out of Lyon and the surrounding region. The locals would also pair it without hesitation with a slow-roasted leg of lamb seasoned with herbes de Provence, or a daube de bœuf cooked in local wine with olives and orange peel. Grilled duck breast with a simple jus works beautifully here too, the wine's pepper and dark fruit cutting through the richness. For something more casual, a platter of hard sheep's cheese from the Ardèche is exactly the kind of pairing nobody argues with.
We think this wine would go well with
Serve at around 16°C — cool enough to keep the freshness alive but warm enough for the pepper and savoury notes to express themselves. A brief decant of 20 to 30 minutes will open up the fruit and soften any initial tightness; this isn't a wine that needs hours, just a little air. A standard Burgundy-style glass works well, giving the aromatic lift room to develop without dissipating it.
The 'Sens' cuvée draws on younger vines and parcels on the flatter alluvial and granitic soils to the north and south of the Hermitage hill — quite different in character from the steep, decomposed granite of the hill itself. These soils drain well and warm quickly, giving the wine its forward fruit and fresh profile rather than the more brooding, mineral depth you find further up. The continental climate of the northern Rhône — cold winters, hot summers, and the cooling influence of the Mistral — keeps acidity lively and aromatics precise, which in a fresh vintage like 2024 is a genuine advantage.
Crozes-Hermitage is the largest appellation in the northern Rhône, wrapping around the famous granite hill of Hermitage on all sides. For red wines, only Syrah is permitted; whites are made from Marsanne and Roussanne. The appellation covers a wide range of soil types — from granitic slopes close to the hill, to alluvial flats and clay-limestone further out — which means quality and character vary considerably across the zone. At its best, Crozes offers the northern Rhône personality of pepper, dark fruit, and savoury depth at a fraction of the price of its famous neighbour.
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 Sens taste like?
Think crunchy dark cherry, violet, and cracked white pepper with a cool, iron-edged mineral quality running underneath. It's medium-bodied, fresh, and savoury rather than rich or heavy — a northern Rhône Syrah that leads with energy.
When should I drink this wine?
It's genuinely good right now and doesn't need any time in the cellar. The sweet spot is probably 2026 to 2030, when the fruit and savoury complexity are in balance. We'd be surprised if it gained much more after 2032.
What food should I pair it with?
This is a natural at the table with roast lamb, duck breast, or anything from a good charcuterie board. Hard sheep's cheese works well too. The pepper and savoury notes mean it handles a little spice and fat without flinching.
Do I need to decant it?
A short decant of 20 to 30 minutes does it good — enough to open up the fruit and soften any initial firmness. No need to leave it sitting for hours; it's not that kind of wine.
How does Sens compare to Hermitage from the same domaine?
Fayolle's Hermitage parcels produce something more concentrated, structured, and built for the long haul. Sens is the more approachable, nimbler sibling — less about power and more about pleasure, and considerably easier on the wallet.
Is this wine suitable for vegetarians or vegans?
Laurent Fayolle's low-intervention approach in the cellar means fining agents are minimal to non-existent, but we'd recommend confirming directly with the domaine if this is a firm requirement for you.
OUR GROWERS
Domaine Laurent Fayolle
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