Domaine of the Green Oak Tree from Crozes-Hermitage
On my last trip to the Rhône, the north yielded particularly fruitful new relationships. One of my favorite new additions to our Direct Import portfolio is Domaine du Chêne Vert. I first met co-owner Jordan Colin at a walkaround tasting just outside Tain-l’Hermitage, where the wines immediately caught my attention. Later that day, I visited the property and discovered that their production facility sits right next door to one of Crozes-Hermitage’s great icons—Alain Graillot.
Jordan explained that in the estate’s early years—from the 17th through the 19th centuries—the family primarily farmed in polyculture, growing fruit and grains, raising livestock, and cultivating some Syrah for their own wines. In the 20th century, Marius Rochas began focusing more on Syrah and vinifying his own wines, though by the 1950s the family had joined the local cooperative, where they remained for decades. A new chapter began in 2001 when Mickaël Rochas took over, steering the domaine toward more environmentally conscious viticulture. By 2011, they had left the cooperative, selling much of their fruit to their neighbor, Graillot.
In 2019, Jordan joined his uncle Mickaël as a full partner, and by 2021 the estate achieved organic certification. Today, they farm about 17 hectares of vines, still selling the majority under contract but now keeping around five hectares for their own label. Their first independently produced wine came in 2022 (made at Graillot’s facility), followed by the opening of their own petite winery in 2023.
In the cellar, the reds include some whole-cluster fermentation, rely exclusively on native yeasts, and see only modest new oak—mostly larger-format barrels—to preserve freshness and terroir transparency. With just the top parcels chosen for their own bottlings, these first two cuvées are a thrilling introduction to the precision, balance, and character of Domaine du Chêne Vert. We’re thrilled to welcome them to the K&L family.
2023 Domaine du Chêne Vert Crozes-Hermitage Blanc $24.99 94JGD A good Crozes Blanc can be a wonderful thing. Often more subtle in tone, these wines evoke the quiet pleasures and nuances of life—refined, understated, yet deeply satisfying. This Blanc opens with aromas of Golden Delicious apple, raw almond, and fresh-cut melon, accented by a faint wisp of salinity.
On the palate, it’s pure elegance: brined melon, almost like prosciutto and melon—but without the hamminess—supported by the persistence of apple and almond through a long, graceful finish. While many Crozes Blancs lean heavily on oak, this rendition is seamless and poised, allowing the varietal character to shine over any wood influence.
2023 Domaine du Chêne Vert Crozes-Hermitage Rouge $24.99 95JGD The nose opens with bright cherry and strawberry, accented by a delicate perfume of violets that seems to hover in the background. Subtle notes of wild herbs add complexity, while a touch of classic gaminess points unmistakably to its Northern Rhône roots. On the palate, the wine carries more weight and presence, yet the tannins remain refined and gently sweet. Superbly elegant, it’s a wine built for the dinner table, defined by grace and finesse—a perfect foil for roast duck or grilled lamb.