France | Rhône Valley | Domaine des Hauts Chassis
Domaine des Hauts Chassis
Summary
Domaine des Hauts Châssis is a 12 hectare estate in the middle of the locality called “Les Hauts Châssis” in the south of the Crozes Hermitage appellation area. It has been in existence for 3 generations. The current owner Franck Faugier has been the winemaker since taking over the family's vineyards in 1998 and made the decision to leave the local co-operative and go out on his own.
He is the fourth generation of his family to tend to their vines in the commune of La Roche-de-Glun in Crozes-Hermitage, however all the previous generations sold their grapes to either Paul Jaboulet Aîne or the Tain Cooperative. Franck's 12 hectares of Syrah vines grow on the stony, red-clay and sandy soils of Les Châssis — one of the most prized plots of land in all of Crozes-Hermitage — with three hectares planted in the 1930's and another four planted in the 1950's and 1960's. He works his vines as naturally as possible, utilizing Biodynamic farming methods to ensure the health of his soil and plants. From these stony soils, Franck is able to craft expressive, juicy Syrah that drinks with fabulous freshness, complexity and fruit intensity.