Northern Rhone

Wine growers in the northern Rh?ne since 1481, the Chave family represents 16 generations of unbroken lineage committed to the production of some of the finest Syrah, Marsanne, and Roussanne on the planet. Jean Louis joined his father in 1992 after completing undergraduate studies at University of Connecticut and a degree in oenology at Davis. It was at that time that he completely replanted vineyards on the family?s original estate in Saint-Joseph, which had been abandoned in the early 1900?s when phylloxera hit the region.

The wine has lovely almond and acacia flower scents and wonderfully-textured white stone fruit palate with a long, elegant finish.

Crozes-Hermitage is an appellation in France's northern Rhone Valley where Syrah rules the roost. In fact, Syrah is the only red grape allowed to grow here and in the entire northern Rhone, for that matter. Whites are rare and they're another story.

This big, dark, full bodied red has all the bells and whistles you want to find in high quality French Syrah, namely, ripe dark fruit flavours with aromas of white pepper and savoury spice. It's three years old and still youthful, but drinks well now, decanted. It will continue to age for up to a decade in a good cellar.

Shockingly good given the difficulties in Crozes during the growing season (it rained - a lot), the 2021 Crozes-Hermitage Silene has a pretty, complex, elegant perfume of red berries, spring flowers, cedary herbs, and pepper, with some classic Northern Rh?ne bacon fat. Nicely textured, medium-bodied, and elegant, with good ripeness, it's a rock-solid, classic, old school-styled Crozes to enjoy over the coming 7-8 years.

90 Jeb Dunnuck, May 2023

Clape Cornas Renaissance is crafted from the Clape estate's younger vines, offering a more approachable and vibrant expression of the appellation. These vines are, nonetheless, over 30 year old, primarily in the Les Sabarotte and Geynale lieux-dits providing heady full bodied Syrah with aromas and flavours of boysenberry, star anise and cola - silky polished tannins and keen acidity. Traditional winemaking approaches, including whole-cluster fermentation, and maturation in old oak foudres enhances the wine's aromatic intensity and structure of the wine offering a fresh, yet profound, interpretation of the esteemed Cornas terroir.

Outstanding spicy, concentrated expression of Syrah from the St Joseph appellation in France's northern Rhone Valley. Beautiful rich dark red with flavour to burn and ability to age, although it's super tasty right now - decant and enjoy in a large glass. 

A great Syrah from the northern Rhone appellation of Cornas, famous for its staunch full bodied dry flavoured reds and long ageability of wines made from here. This powerful red from Ferraton Pere & Fils has dark black fruit flavours, strong spicy aromas and a hint of black pepper, tar and earthiness all adding great complexity to an outstanding and youthful wine. 

Drinks well now, if decanted, and begs to be cellared for up to and potentially beyond 10 years.