Nicolas Crozes Les Trois Grains Cotes du Rhone 2023

Nicolas Croze is the fourth generation to farm his family's vines at Saint-Martin-d'Ardèche, where the Ardèche gorges open onto the southern Rhône; the domaine's 27 hectares spread across five communes on clay-limestone, sand, and rocky ground, certified HVE and picked entirely by hand. Les Trois Grains names its three grapes, Grenache, Syrah, and Marselan, macerated for about two weeks in concrete vats with old-fashioned pigeage. Light ruby and juicy, with small red fruits and a peppery thread of spice, it asks only for a table and something braised. Côtes du Rhône the unforced way.