b'DOMAINE COMBIERESTABLISHED: 1962OWNER: Laurent & Ghislaine CombierWINEMAKER: Laurent CombierLOCATION: Northern Rhne, FranceCOMMUNE: Pont-de-lIsreSIZE OF THE ESTATE: 62 acresVanguard of organic farming in all of France.BasedinthevillageofPont-de-lIsrenamedforthe IsreRiverwhichconveneswiththeRhneRiverjust south of Tain lHermitage.MauriceCombierpurchasedthepropertyin1962,and by the early 70s he had begun converting his orchards toorganicfarmingwhich,inthosechemical-happy days, earned him the nickname Maurice le Fou (Crazy Maurice).The results were evident and before long his practices were being widely imitated.When his son, Laurent, joined him in 1989 they began puttingtheCombiernameontheirproduceand expanding their vineyard holdings and cellar.TodaytheDomaineencompassesabout62acresof vines in several villagesall of them in proximity to the Hermitage hill above Tain.OneoftheCombiersimmediateneighborsisanother Crozes-Hermitage master, Alain Graillot.This represents some of the best value and quality in the Northern Rhne.Domaine Combiers wines surpass expectations of both appellation and price point.9'