Maison Criner-Estevan

Northern Rhone

Location Vienne-Seyssuel, Rhone
Grapes Viognier, Syrah, Grenache, Carignan, Dureza, Serine
Viticulture Organic/Sustainable
Producer Elio and Cyril Estevan, Pierre and Sebastien Criner
Website www.maisoncrinerestevan.fr
Location Vienne-Seyssuel, Rhone
Grapes Viognier, Syrah, Grenache, Carignan, Dureza, Serine
Viticulture Organic/Sustainable
Producer Elio and Cyril Estevan, Pierre and Sebastien Criner
Website www.maisoncrinerestevan.fr

I am so thrilled to announce the arrival of the beautiful new wines of Sebastien Criner and Elio Estevan, based in Chasse Rhone, in the very north of the Rhone Valley, 10k north of Vienne. 

 

The newly anointed AOP of Vienne-Seyssuel will come into effect for the 2025 vintage so currently all wines of this domaine, founded in 2019, are Colline Rhodaniennes. Of course not all the wines are from this terroir, as they have around 4 hectares in total covering Seyssuel, St Joseph, Crozes Hermitage and Ardeche. Elio trained with the likes of Yves Cuilleron and Alain Graillot, who’s son, Maxime is a long-term friend. The respect he has for them is obvious, his work ethic unquestionable and empathy with the vines and terroir is that of a man twice his age. 

 

The wines are fermented, pressed and aged in their small cellar on the banks of the Rhone (this is the narrowest part of the valley) where the white wines are aged in a cellar under the house, and the reds in a separate building. The vineyards are managed biodynamically by Elio and his small team of three, and all the work is done by hand, as often the slopes allow for nothing else. The attention to detail is meticulous, and the litmus test of any CBW agency, the clean smell of a cellar, was passed with flying colours, no brett, no VA. 


Criner-Estevan Wines

Altitude VSIG Blanc 100% Viognier planted on a granite hillside from St Joseph. Foot trodden fruit aged in 400 litre barrels.
Altitude Syrah 100% Syrah from an old parcel of vines located in St Joseph, but above the altitude limit for the AOP. Planted on granite, the vineyard is 60 years of age and is a far cooler site than many in this region and as such they lost 40% of the fruit this vintage due to hail and mildew. The ferment is 50% whole-bunch, with a cool maceration and gentle press. Elevage is made in Burgundy barrique, used, for 8 months.
Dureza 100% Dureza planted on a granite hillside. Only 600 bottles are made of this variety, known as Dureza which is in fact a cross of Gamay and Syrah, found very occasionally in the Ardeche. It produces a wine exactly as one would expect, infused with joy, lightess and a savoury sweet edge.
Mistral As the name suggests this is a cuvee that typifies the Rhone in its entirety, blown up from the south. The blend, 45% Syrah, 50% Grenache and 5% Carignan is sourced from vines in the Ardeche and from a small plot of biodynamic vines in Montelimar. This has the coolness of the northern Rhone syrah allied to the juicier more upfront Grenache. Aged in 400 litre oak for 8 months.
Pur Galet 100% Syrah from Les Chassis owned by Alain Graillot. Maxime and Elio farm the plot together and the Graillot family have been instrumental in getting this cuvee off the ground, in respect to Elio's hard work for them. The wine is classic Chassis style: ferric, violet, peppery and blackberry, with a taut mineral palate.
Pure Roche 100% Serine from massal selected vines from Cornas and Cote Rotie planted on schistous soil on the slopes of Chasse sur Rhone in Seyssuel. Whole bunch fermentation and aged for 12 months in Burgundy barrels.
Altitude VSIG Blanc 100% Viognier planted on a granite hillside from St Joseph. Foot trodden fruit aged in 400 litre barrels.
Altitude Syrah 100% Syrah from an old parcel of vines located in St Joseph, but above the altitude limit for the AOP. Planted on granite, the vineyard is 60 years of age and is a far cooler site than many in this region and as such they lost 40% of the fruit this vintage due to hail and mildew. The ferment is 50% whole-bunch, with a cool maceration and gentle press. Elevage is made in Burgundy barrique, used, for 8 months.
Dureza 100% Dureza planted on a granite hillside. Only 600 bottles are made of this variety, known as Dureza which is in fact a cross of Gamay and Syrah, found very occasionally in the Ardeche. It produces a wine exactly as one would expect, infused with joy, lightess and a savoury sweet edge.
Mistral As the name suggests this is a cuvee that typifies the Rhone in its entirety, blown up from the south. The blend, 45% Syrah, 50% Grenache and 5% Carignan is sourced from vines in the Ardeche and from a small plot of biodynamic vines in Montelimar. This has the coolness of the northern Rhone syrah allied to the juicier more upfront Grenache. Aged in 400 litre oak for 8 months.
Pur Galet 100% Syrah from Les Chassis owned by Alain Graillot. Maxime and Elio farm the plot together and the Graillot family have been instrumental in getting this cuvee off the ground, in respect to Elio's hard work for them. The wine is classic Chassis style: ferric, violet, peppery and blackberry, with a taut mineral palate.
Pure Roche 100% Serine from massal selected vines from Cornas and Cote Rotie planted on schistous soil on the slopes of Chasse sur Rhone in Seyssuel. Whole bunch fermentation and aged for 12 months in Burgundy barrels.