classic expression of Northern Rhone Syrah
A big hit at our recent blind tasting class.
from the importer:
The Cuilleron family domaine, located in the hamlet of Verlieu (part of the town of Chavanay) was founded several generations ago (1920). Yves Cuilleron's grandfather was the first to bottle wine for commercial purposes in 1947. Yves assumed full ownership and direction of the domaine in 1987 and, since that time, has built an entirely new facility while at the same time acquiring additional vineyard property. The domaine is now (as of 2012) significantly larger in scope with 52 hectares of vineyards that cover multiple appellations, including principally, Condrieu, Saint Joseph Rouge and Blanc, Cote Rotie, Saint Péray and a series of Vin de Pays from the Collines Rhodaniennes. Most of the vineyards are situated in and around the commune of Chavanay which is just south of the town of Condrieu; obviously, the holdings in Cote Rotie extend north into Ampuis and the holdings the furthest south are in the village of Saint Péray. To control yields, Cuilleron does extensive debudding and, when necessary, practices a “green harvest”. In the cave, the grapes (harvested manually) are fermented using indigenous yeasts.
100% Syrah from vines planted on a mix of granite and alluvial soils. Benchmark producer who releases everything up thru high end Crozes Hermitage and Saint Joseph.
violets, green olive, cracked black pepper, wild red & black berry fruit, fairly light colored but medium bodied with gentle tannins, noticeable granitic minerality, brambly, savory
region: Chavanay, northern Rhône Valley, France
style: Red
varietal: Syrah
farming/cellar: organic, The grapes are handpicked and then sorted crushed and partially destemmed in the cellar. ambient yeast fermented in open-top temperature-controlled vats for about 3 weeks, with regular cap-punching and pumping-over. Alcoholic fermentation in vats with native yeasts and malolactic fermentation in barrels. The wine is then aged eight months in a mix of stainless and barrel before being bottled.
pairing: brisket sandwich, charcuterie
