Vineyard

The Story

Domaine Belle has an interesting history. In 1769, at a village assembly called by the new local Lord of Larnage, each family was granted a small parcel of land with vines for their personal use. From these feudal times the family holding gradually expanded. A great change took place when Louis Belle (Philippe’s grandfather) took over the property. In fact, while Louis Belle loved growing vines, he didn’t much like making the wine and in 1933 he became a founder member of the Tain l’Hermitage wine-making cooperative. Today, the Belle estate covers six communes (Larnage, Crozes-Hermitage, Tain l'Hermitage, Pont de l'Isère, Mercurol and Tournon), three appellations (Crozes Hermitage, Hermitage, Saint Joseph) and an area of 25 ha of vines, to which must be added apricot orchards and a wine nursery managed by Jean Claude, Philippe's brother. The vineyard has been certified organic since 2014. The Wine Advocate cites "Domaine Belle is one of the most consistent and reliable producers of Crozes Hermitage. While the family doesn't shy away from the use of oak, there's either less new oak than there used to be, and the wines are more intense and fruity."