More about Domaine des Remizieres

Domaine des Rémizières is a family-run estate with a foothold on the hill of Hermitage. The Desmeure family's domaine in Mercurol, in the heart of Crozes-Hermitage, is known for rich, oak-framed Syrah built for the cellar.

It started small, with Alphonse Desmeure working a few hectares and selling his grapes to the local cooperative. The family began making its own wine in the 1970s, and Philippe Desmeure, who took over in 1977, built the estate up to more than 35 hectares across Crozes-Hermitage, Hermitage and Saint-Joseph. His children joined him: Émilie in 2005 with an enology diploma, and Christophe in 2009. The domaine carries France's HVE (High Environmental Value) certification.

Most of the range is Crozes-Hermitage, red and white, with Saint-Joseph from vines across the river around Saint-Jean-de-Muzols and Vion. The top wines come from Hermitage parcels in Les Grandes Vignes and Les Rocoules. Cuvée Émilie, first made in 1995 and named for Philippe's daughter, is the flagship: Syrah raised largely in new French oak, with a barrel-fermented, Marsanne-based white Émilie too. These are modern-leaning, structured wines that reward patience, and mature bottles are where they really show their depth.