The Seminal Syrah Experience
Day 4 of Our Grape du Jour Sale
by Dustin Soiseth
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That Syrah is tough to sell is an old wine business cliché, and as with most clichés, there’s some truth in it. For whatever reason, this beguiling dark-skinned grape hasn’t captivated wine drinkers the way other varieties have. I think it’s because the best Syrahs somehow seem inscrutable. Instead of leaping out of the glass, they pull you in. They have interesting and unusual aromas, and are slightly off-kilter in an intriguing way, like the waltz in 5/4 time in Tchaikovsky’s Pathétique. If you happen to be a Syrah devotee, like me, you probably appreciate these qualities in your wine—and perhaps in your music, as well.
I’d be willing to wager that for most Syrah lovers, the seminal Syrah experience was with a bottle from the northern Rhône. It’s an improbable combination of grape and place, with vineyards so steep and punishing to work that even the scions of famous domaines think twice about taking over from their hardworking parents. It was not enough to deter Marie Perret, Lionel Faury, Clémence Marsanne, and Bastien Jolivet, young stars putting out exceptional wines from extremely challenging terrain. Meanwhile, veteran vigneron Louis Barruol seeks out top sites in Côte Rôtie, Hermitage, and Crozes, and offers us his best barrels for KLWM-exclusive blends of northern Syrah brimming with violets, pepper, and smoke.
Farther south, at Domaine Gramenon, the terrain is less forbidding and the Syrah more extroverted. Proprietor Maxime-Francois Laurent is among a handful of vignerons making serious Syrah bottlings from several regions across southern France, farming organically and working naturally in the cellar to capture hearty, sun-soaked expressions of this singular grape. Maybe you’re not in the mood for Tchaikovsky and would prefer some mischievous Stravinsky instead.
The Seminal Syrah Experience
Day 4 of Our Grape du Jour Sale
by Dustin Soiseth
The hill of Hermitage
© Gail Skoff
Clémence Marsanne
© Jimmy Hayes
Cornas
© Gail Skoff
The Clape cellar
© Gail Skoff
Bastien Jolivet in his Syrah vines
© Gail Skoff
Gramenon’s Maxime François Laurent
© Gail Skoff
The best Syrahs somehow seem inscrutable. Instead of leaping out of the glass, they pull you in. They have interesting and unusual aromas, and are slightly off-kilter in an intriguing way, like the waltz in 5/4 time in Tchaikovsky’s Pathétique.
TODAY ONLY! Take 30% off wines in the collection
Click to apply this promo code to your order
Click to apply: SYRAH30 Valid through Saturday, August 29thPromo code terms
Wines In The Collection
Lionel Faury France | Northern Rhône
With lovely notes of currant and violets, this bright, crunchy wine is irresistible in its youth. Serve cool with just about anything.
Domaine Gramenon France | Southern Rhône
A pure Syrah bottling offering wild flavors of the Provençal countryside gently wrapped in a thick coat of tooth-staining deep purple fruit.
Mas Champart France | Languedoc-Roussillon
This cuvée is all about the terroir; along with soulful, dark fruit, you can taste the stoniness in the wine.
Domaine Jean-Claude Marsanne France | Northern Rhône
This small parcel has a fruit-forward, approachable style, yet with intense spice and licorice in there as well, perhaps from the deep-rooted old Syrah vines.
Domaine Jolivet France | Northern Rhône
Cool in the mouth, with a whiff of smoke and game, this soulful little country Syrah will do a jig with your pâtés and terrines.
Héritage du Pic Saint Loup France | Languedoc-Roussillon
One of the great reds of the Languedoc. Rhône Valley, look out!
Domaine Jean-Claude Marsanne France | Northern Rhône
The kind of Saint-Jo to dig into right away: smoky, layered, lush, and laced with violet, bay leaf, and black olive.
Domaine d’Aupilhac France | Languedoc-Roussillon
Fadat’s bottlings from this terroir have proven to be among the most complex and elegant wines of southern France.
Barruol / Lynch France | Northern Rhône
This juicy, blueberry-and-leather-infused Syrah with a long finish is ready to drink tonight.
Barruol / Lynch France | Northern Rhône
Made from six vineyards that, when blended, showcase the whole of the Côte Rôtie appellation.
Cantina Favaro Italy | Piedmont
Syrah, from Alto Piemonte? Why not! Decidedly floral, laced with violet and plum thanks to a gentle touch during vinification.
Domaine Jolivet France | Northern Rhône
It is a real-deal northern Rhône roasted-slope Syrah that walks the tightrope perfectly between creamy fruit, meaty tannins, and fresh spine.
Domaine Jean-Claude Marsanne France | Northern Rhône
It tastes of pure Syrah, like a baby Saint-Joseph, and is great for any time you want an unmistakable taste of the region and its smoky, peppery reds.
Domaine Gramenon France | Southern Rhône
Deep, concentrated, and refreshingly saline, this is like great Cornas with Mediterranean influences.
Héritage du Pic Saint Loup France | Languedoc-Roussillon
Savory and floral, with bright accents of orange zest, it soars over the palate with grace and finishes with a freshness reminiscent of cool stone.
André Perret France | Northern Rhône
With notes of red berries, stones, and the faintest hint of brine, this exuberant Syrah is the bottle you should open all summer and fall.
Barruol / Lynch France | Northern Rhône
Expansive savory aromas, meaty, broad, velvety tannins, grandness, ripeness and freshness, all at once. Only in Hermitage!
André Perret France | Northern Rhône
Showcasing the stately side of Syrah—dark, stony and dense. In five or ten years, it will emerge from your cellar as an extremely fine Saint-Joseph, one of the best the appellation has to offer.
Domaine Monier Perréol France | Northern Rhône
From high-altitude slopes above the Rhône river, this Syrah exhibits remarkable purity and grace.
Domaine Monier Perréol France | Northern Rhône
Hailing from a single vineyard high up on the hill above Saint-Désirat, this cuvée dials up the fragrance and elegance of Monier-Pérreol’s Saint-Joseph.
Lionel Faury France | Northern Rhône
The roots of these vines run deep, and deep is what you get in the glass, too—a rich mix of black olive, fennel, and raspberry.
Barruol / Lynch France | Northern Rhône
Delicate and perfumed, it speaks softly, yet it has so much to say: lilies, bacon fat, spices... it could only be Côte Rôtie.
Domaine Monier Perréol France | Northern Rhône
Elegant blue and black fruit abound, but here it mingles with a hint of sanguinity and some dusty tannin.
France | Northern Rhône
With lovely notes of currant and violets, this bright, crunchy wine is irresistible in its youth. Serve cool with just about anything.
France | Southern Rhône
A pure Syrah bottling offering wild flavors of the Provençal countryside gently wrapped in a thick coat of tooth-staining deep purple fruit.
France | Languedoc-Roussillon
This cuvée is all about the terroir; along with soulful, dark fruit, you can taste the stoniness in the wine.
France | Northern Rhône
This small parcel has a fruit-forward, approachable style, yet with intense spice and licorice in there as well, perhaps from the deep-rooted old Syrah vines.
France | Northern Rhône
Cool in the mouth, with a whiff of smoke and game, this soulful little country Syrah will do a jig with your pâtés and terrines.
France | Languedoc-Roussillon
One of the great reds of the Languedoc. Rhône Valley, look out!
France | Northern Rhône
The kind of Saint-Jo to dig into right away: smoky, layered, lush, and laced with violet, bay leaf, and black olive.
France | Languedoc-Roussillon
Fadat’s bottlings from this terroir have proven to be among the most complex and elegant wines of southern France.
France | Northern Rhône
This juicy, blueberry-and-leather-infused Syrah with a long finish is ready to drink tonight.
France | Provence
If Hermitage were grown in the Provençal Alps...
France | Northern Rhône
Made from six vineyards that, when blended, showcase the whole of the Côte Rôtie appellation.
Italy | Piedmont
Syrah, from Alto Piemonte? Why not! Decidedly floral, laced with violet and plum thanks to a gentle touch during vinification.
France | Northern Rhône
It is a real-deal northern Rhône roasted-slope Syrah that walks the tightrope perfectly between creamy fruit, meaty tannins, and fresh spine.
France | Northern Rhône
It tastes of pure Syrah, like a baby Saint-Joseph, and is great for any time you want an unmistakable taste of the region and its smoky, peppery reds.
France | Southern Rhône
Deep, concentrated, and refreshingly saline, this is like great Cornas with Mediterranean influences.
France | Languedoc-Roussillon
Savory and floral, with bright accents of orange zest, it soars over the palate with grace and finishes with a freshness reminiscent of cool stone.
France | Northern Rhône
With notes of red berries, stones, and the faintest hint of brine, this exuberant Syrah is the bottle you should open all summer and fall.
France | Northern Rhône
Expansive savory aromas, meaty, broad, velvety tannins, grandness, ripeness and freshness, all at once. Only in Hermitage!
France | Northern Rhône
Showcasing the stately side of Syrah—dark, stony and dense. In five or ten years, it will emerge from your cellar as an extremely fine Saint-Joseph, one of the best the appellation has to offer.
France | Northern Rhône
From high-altitude slopes above the Rhône river, this Syrah exhibits remarkable purity and grace.
France | Northern Rhône
Hailing from a single vineyard high up on the hill above Saint-Désirat, this cuvée dials up the fragrance and elegance of Monier-Pérreol’s Saint-Joseph.
France | Northern Rhône
The roots of these vines run deep, and deep is what you get in the glass, too—a rich mix of black olive, fennel, and raspberry.
France | Northern Rhône
Delicate and perfumed, it speaks softly, yet it has so much to say: lilies, bacon fat, spices... it could only be Côte Rôtie.
France | Northern Rhône
Elegant blue and black fruit abound, but here it mingles with a hint of sanguinity and some dusty tannin.
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