More about Romaneaux-Destezet (Herve Souhaut)

On a slope just opposite the esteemed Hermitage hill, Hervé Souhaut makes wines that defy the stereotypes set forth by more traditional, and some might say more staid, Rhône winemakers. A former chemist, who married into a family with old holdings tucked away in an unknown corner of the Rhône Valley, Souhaut and his wife, Béatrice, are producing wine made with minimal intervention but the utmost care and precision. These are wines meant to be drunk–young, in quantity, and with great joy. That's not to say they can't be aged; after a bit of time in the cellar, they grow only more complex.The domaine was purchased in 1993, and over the past 25 years, the Souhauts have added tiny parcel after tiny parcel. Today they own 5 hectares, mostly on steep slopes located throughout the valley, and all farmed with great integrity and attention to the smallest details. All of the wines listed today are harvested by hand, and have minimal sulfur added, only at bottling. They are some of the most beloved, and sought after, natural wines in the world.These cuvées express all of the power and grace we expect from the Northern Rhône, but don't require an additional decade of cellaring before they're ready to be enjoyed. Thanks to Hervé's commitment to balance, in the vineyard and the cellar, his are wines of finesse and purity.