Crozes-Hermitage, Dard et Ribo

2008 Crozes-Hermitage, Dard et Ribo
René Jean Dard and François Ribo have acquired a cult following amongst those who frequent the natural wine bars of France and they are also revered in Japan, the second home of great low sulphur wines. Their 7.5 vineyard holding is split around seven villages on a variety of terroirs comprising different soil types. The winery is located near Mercurol (a short distance east of Tain l’Hermitage). They use two types of pruning, goblet and tie-up, depending of the slope and other terrain conditions and practise organic viticulture. The Crozes, from red clay soils with gravel and alluvial stones, is almost salty with notes of violets, olives, dill, blackberry, liquorice and leather. It is a gentle, savoury wine, touching 12%, totally at ease in its own skin, a delicious advert for northern Rhone. We drank this wine effortlessly with rack of lamb slathered in tapenade roasted on a bed of crushed rosemary with goose fat potatoes and a pea shoot salad.