2022 Cave de Tain Les Hauts du Fief Crozes-Hermitage Rouge

2022 Cave de Tain Les Hauts du Fief Crozes-Hermitage Rouge is a refined expression of northern Rhône Syrah from one of the appellation’s benchmark producers. Crafted to highlight purity of fruit and the distinct character of Crozes-Hermitage, it offers both immediate pleasure and impressive structure. The “Les Hauts du Fief” cuvée draws on some of Cave de Tain’s best-situated vineyards, with a history rooted in the granite and alluvial terraces that have made this area famous for elegant, ageworthy reds.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, this Crozes-Hermitage shows a deep ruby-purple hue with bright, youthful reflections. The nose is vibrant and expressive, offering classic Syrah aromatics: blackberries and ripe black cherry layered with violets, cracked black pepper, smoked meat, and a hint of liquorice and graphite. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, combining juicy dark fruit with fresh acidity and fine-grained tannins. Flavours of blackberry, blackcurrant, plum and blueberry are backed by notes of olive tapenade, spice and a subtle touch of oak. The finish is long, savoury and mineral, with good tension that keeps the wine lifted rather than heavy. While beautifully approachable in its youth for its generous fruit and perfume, this 2022 vintage has the structure to evolve gracefully over the next 5–8 years, gaining complexity and a more pronounced savoury character with time in bottle.

Production
Les Hauts du Fief is sourced from selected parcels within the Crozes-Hermitage appellation, where Syrah thrives on a patchwork of granite, stony alluvial soils and clay-limestone terraces that bring both ripeness and finesse. The vineyards benefit from the Rhône’s continental climate, with warm days and cooler nights helping to preserve aromatic freshness. Grapes are typically harvested by hand at optimal ripeness, allowing for careful selection in the vineyard. In the cellar, traditional northern Rhône methods are used: destemming (often partial), temperature-controlled fermentation, and gentle extraction to capture colour and structure without harshness. The wine is then matured, often in a combination of tanks and French oak barrels, to balance fruit purity with subtle spice and texture before bottling.

Food & Serving
This Crozes-Hermitage is a versatile partner at the table, pairing beautifully with roast lamb, grilled beef, duck breast, game birds, and hearty stews such as boeuf bourguignon or daube provençale. It also works well with charcuterie, hard cheeses like Comté or aged Gouda, and dishes featuring mushrooms, lentils or black olives. Serve at around 16–18°C to emphasise its aromatic complexity and balance. A short decant of 30–45 minutes is recommended in its youth to open up the nose and soften the tannins, while more mature bottles can be simply poured and enjoyed once sediment has settled.

Producer
Cave de Tain, founded in 1933 at the foot of the Hermitage hill, is one of the most respected cooperative cellars in the Rhône Valley and a key ambassador for the wines of northern Rhône. Bringing together a large group of quality-focused growers, it controls significant vineyard holdings across Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage, Saint-Joseph, Cornas and Saint-Péray. Over the decades, Cave de Tain has built a reputation for meticulous vineyard management and a modern yet terroir-driven approach in the cellar, consistently delivering wines that punch above their weight in terms of quality and typicity. Its cuvées, including Les Hauts du Fief, are frequently recognised by critics and wine competitions, helping to cement the cooperative’s status as a benchmark producer in the region.

We deliver within 2 - 6 business days. You can choose whether it should be to a parcel shop or home delivery. Free delivery to both parcel shops and your front door. Our store partners primarily use GLS, DPD, UPS and DHL for deliveries. We cover deliveries to the majority of countries in Europe.