Les Vins Aujoux 'Les Pierres Blanches' VV Crozes-Hermitage 2020

Winemaking

Les Vins Aujoux is a small, family-operated estate in the northern Rhône Valley with a commitment to expressing the mineral character and elegance of Crozes-Hermitage terroir. The winery favors traditional winemaking methods that let the vineyard speak, allowing the natural acidity and structure of Syrah from this region to define the final wine.

Tasting Notes

This wine opens with aromatic dark fruit — blackberry and plum — layered with white pepper and a distinctive minerality that speaks to the appellation's granite-based soils. On the palate, refined cherry flavors meld with subtle spice and a silky, well-integrated texture, carried by bright acidity that keeps the wine lively and age-worthy. The finish is clean and persistent, with peppery notes and a mineral edge that lingers gracefully.

Producer

Aujoux operates as a small, quality-focused producer within Crozes-Hermitage, the larger and more approachable cousin of the prestigious Hermitage appellation. The estate prioritizes sustainable farming and traditional vinification methods that honor the site's natural character rather than impose a heavy hand in the cellar.

Terroir

Crozes-Hermitage sits on the left bank of the Rhône River in the northern Rhône Valley, where granite-rich soils and a continental climate produce Syrah of remarkable purity and mineral definition. The appellation benefits from steep hillsides and alluvial plains that create ideal conditions for the varietal's natural white pepper spice and dark fruit intensity.

Food Pairings

Try this wine alongside a pan-seared duck breast with cherry gastrique, where the wine's silky texture and cherry flavors complement the rich meat beautifully. It's equally at home with herb-crusted lamb chops or even a casual beef burger with caramelized onions — the acidity and pepper notes cut through richness while the mineral backbone keeps everything balanced.