2017 Domaine Les Alexandrins Crozes-Hermitage

A bit less flattering at this stage than either the négociant Crozes or the 2016 domaine bottling, the 2017 Crozes-Hermitage Domaine les Alexandrins is all about structure at the moment, with crisp, almost shrill acids and grainy, coarse tannins. Thankfully, there's plenty of briary, herbal, plummy fruit to compensate and a refreshing, ripe note of licorice on the long finish that bodes well for the future.