2019 Domaine des Pierres Seches IGP Ardeche Syrah

Region: Rhone Valley, France

Grape: Syrah

Culinary Suggestions: Pork terrine, grilled sausages with herbs or roasted chicken.

Vineyard Practice: Organic

About

Sylvain Gauthier numbers among the young, eager and talented ‘rock-star’ northern Rhone producers. He is set on making the world take notice of his dense but pure syrah and is happy to work his mostly high-altitude, steep granite sites by hand, ploughing by horse and also using a handhoe for weed control. This is a fully organic domaine of 6ha, all Southern St. Joseph steeply terraced on steep high slopes. Coming from Lorraine, where his father was a vigneron, he left the region and studied wine in Beaune before working with Chapoutier and Stephane Robert, both significant Northern Rhone producers. He then started on his own with a single-minded vision of making pure, natural, clean and vivid 'real' Rhone shiraz. - Importer Note

Tasting Notes

Meaty and spicy, oyster shells, nuts and dried herb, blue and black fruit. It’s intense, but light, with an almost bloody flavour, but plenty of energy and fruit too. Really pops. Pumice stone tannin is a highlight, as is the freshness and grip on a long cool finish. You might say it’s all Syrah on the nose, but with a sort of Beaujolais lightness and crunch in the mouth. A delight. 94 points - Gary Walsh, The Wine Front April 2021

Drink: 2021 - 2026+