Syrah, France
Wine is being produced throughout France and has been done for over 2,500 years with certain Châteaux dating their history back to Roman times, around 6th Century BC. Ranking second in the world in per-capita consumption and first in total production quantity. More-so than the overall quantity of wine is the quantity of truly great wines coming out of France makes the nation the envy of wine-making nations worldwide.
Two concepts pivotal to the higher end French wines, in particular, are the idea of 'terroir' and the Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) system. Terroir refers to the way the geography, geology and climate find their way into the glass, telling a story of the origin of the wine. The AOC was set up in 1935 and has the primary goal of protecting the authenticity of the wines and the livelihoods of the producers. Appellation rules strictly define which varieties of grapes and winemaking practices are approved for classification in each of France's several hundred geographically defined appellations, which can cover entire regions, individual villages or in some cases, like in Burgundy even specific vineyards.
Classic wine regions in France include Champagne (home of Champagne), Burgundy (Pinot Noir and Chardonnay), Bordeaux (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot), Alsace (Aromatic varietals), Loire Valley (Chenin Blanc, Crémant) and the Rhône Valley (Syrah, Grenache Mourvedre)
The Bordeaux classification of 1855 is still in use, as is the Sauternes and Barsac Classification of the same year. Wines from certain regions can be bought En Primeur, which is when the wine is sold prior to it being bottled.
Two concepts pivotal to the higher end French wines, in particular, are the idea of 'terroir' and the Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) system. Terroir refers to the way the geography, geology and climate find their way into the glass, telling a story of the origin of the wine. The AOC was set up in 1935 and has the primary goal of protecting the authenticity of the wines and the livelihoods of the producers. Appellation rules strictly define which varieties of grapes and winemaking practices are approved for classification in each of France's several hundred geographically defined appellations, which can cover entire regions, individual villages or in some cases, like in Burgundy even specific vineyards.
Classic wine regions in France include Champagne (home of Champagne), Burgundy (Pinot Noir and Chardonnay), Bordeaux (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot), Alsace (Aromatic varietals), Loire Valley (Chenin Blanc, Crémant) and the Rhône Valley (Syrah, Grenache Mourvedre)
The Bordeaux classification of 1855 is still in use, as is the Sauternes and Barsac Classification of the same year. Wines from certain regions can be bought En Primeur, which is when the wine is sold prior to it being bottled.
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The color is of an intense black. The nose shows a delicate but complex bouquet of aromas: pretty notes of black fruit (blackcurrant, blackberries), smoked and grilled notes and sweet spices. In the mouth, the attack is full of freshness, ... Learn MoreDomaine Les Alexandrins Crozes Hermitage 2017$54.99 Per item -
Showing signs of maturity, the 2004 Ermitage le Meal is an elegant, pretty and seamless Hermitage that offers up plenty of dried flowers, dried spices, leather and both blackberry and raspberry-like fruit characteristics. - Robert Parker Deep garnet red with purple ... Learn MoreDomaine Du Colombier Crozes-Hermitage 2013$60.01 Per item -
Denser than the regular Crozes rouge, like a dry vintage port with blueberry, morello cherry and cocoa powder flavors, well-oaked with typical roasted meat nuances. Vibrant, elegant blueberry flavors. Long finish, hint of black pepper on the palate. ... Learn More -
Maxime Graillot's estate grown Crozes comes from a single vineyard near the village of Beaumont-Monteux, only a couple of kilometres from his father's vines. Here, in the most south-easterly part of the appellation, the soils are full of gravel and ... Learn More -
Domaine Charvin is a southern Rhône producer based in the famous village of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Its wines are mostly Grenache-dominant blends, with smaller amounts of Syrah, Mourvèdre, Vaccarese, Bourboulenc and Carignan. The domaine was established in 1851 in Châ ... Learn MoreDomaine Charvin Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2011$110.00 Per item -
Located along the path of the Rhone River, the Rhone wine region in southeastern France is beautiful and very productive. It's typically divided into two sub-regions, the Northern Rhone and Southern Rhone, and the wines produced in these sub-regions are ... Learn MoreDomaine De Marcoux Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2011$110.00 Per item -
Domaine Pierre Gaillard is a well-regarded wine producer based in Malleval, in the northern Rhône Valley. It is perhaps best-known for its range of local Côte Rôtie, Saint-Joseph, Condrieu, Cornas, and Crozes-Hermitage wines. It also owns vineyard ... Learn MorePierre Gaillard Cote Rotie 2010$125.00 Per item -
In France’s Northern Rhone Valley, there are few names as revered as Graillot. It was in 1985 that the now legendary Alain Graillot, who after working with the venerable Jacques Seysses at Domaine Dujac, came back to his home in ... Learn MoreMaxime Graillot Domaine des Lises Equis Cornas 2009$129.99 Per item -
Domaine Michelas st Jemms are the oldest individual winery in Crozes Hermitage established in 1961. They were the first family to leave the Cave de Tain cooperative, becoming the first independent in the region, and setting the stage for many others ... Learn MoreDomaine Michelas St Jemms Hermitage Terres D'Arce 2015$149.99 Per item -
Delas Frères is an estate based in the northern Rhône Valley, particularly known for its Syrah-based wines from the Hermitage, Côte-Rôtie and Crozes-Hermitages appellations. The Delas family have been involved in the production of wine in ... Learn MoreDelas Freres Cote Rotie Seigneur de Maugiron 2010$160.00 Per item -
Located in the northern part of the Rhône Valley, the DELAS family, a large wine trading house since 1835, operates 30 hectares of vines spread over the excellence of the northern Rhône appellations: Hermitage, Saint-Joseph, Crozes-Hermitage, Côte Rôtie ... Learn MoreDelas Frères Hermitage Rouge Domaine des Tourettes 2015$160.00 Per item -
Domaine Stéphane Ogier is a producer in the northern Rhône appellation of Côte Rôtie. It is especially well known for varietal Syrah from several highly regarded appellations in the region, but also making small amounts of ... Learn More -
Located along the path of the Rhone River, the Rhone wine region in southeastern France is beautiful and very productive. It's typically divided into two sub-regions, the Northern Rhone and Southern Rhone, and the wines produced in these sub-regions are ... Learn MoreDomaine De Marcoux Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2011 (1.5L)$175.00 Per item -
The bouquet is bold, on beef stock, iron, dense black berries, has a poised, integral sweetness, airs of raspberry liqueur, oak smoke. It’s a solid start. The palate has the theme of mineral well placed through it, a lot ... Learn MoreJean-Luc Jamet Cote Rotie 'Terrasses' 2015$190.00 Per item -
Domaine Yves et Mathilde Gangloff is a well-regarded wine producer based in the northern Rhône region of Condrieu (and best-known for its sumptuous, Viognier-based wines from that appellation). Founder Yves Gangloff established the domaine with his wife, Mathilde, in 1987 ... Learn MoreDomaine Yves Gangloff La Barbarine Côte-Rôtie 2014$240.00 Per item -
Domaine Yves et Mathilde Gangloff is a well-regarded wine producer based in the northern Rhône region of Condrieu (and best-known for its sumptuous, Viognier-based wines from that appellation). Founder Yves Gangloff established the domaine with his wife, Mathilde, in 1987 ... Learn MoreDomaine Yves Gangloff La Sereine Noire Côte-Rôtie 2014$240.00 Per item -
Rostaing makes several Côte Rôtie wines. This includes cuvées from both the La Landonne and Côte Blonde subregions, and the Ampodium, which comes from other sites within the appellation. These are aged in a mix of ... Learn MoreRené Rostaing "La Landonne" Côte-Rôtie 2011$280.01 Per item -
Delas Frères is an estate based in the northern Rhône Valley, particularly known for its Syrah-based wines from the Hermitage, Côte-Rôtie and Crozes-Hermitages appellations. The Delas family have been involved in the production of wine in ... Learn MoreDelas Freres Cote Rotie Seigneur de Maugiron 2009 (1.5L)$285.00 Per item -
Rostaing makes several Côte Rôtie wines. This includes cuvées from both the La Landonne and Côte Blonde subregions, and the Ampodium, which comes from other sites within the appellation. These are aged in a mix of ... Learn MoreRené Rostaing "La Landonne" Côte-Rôtie 2012$340.00 Per item -
Jammy blackberry, stone, earth, Provencal herbs, black raspberry jam and spice aromas are all over the place. This voluptuous, full bodied wine finishes with a big mouthful of sweet, jammy berries and kirsch. This is worth buying by the case! ... Learn More -
Delas Frères is an estate based in the northern Rhône Valley, particularly known for its Syrah-based wines from the Hermitage, Côte-Rôtie and Crozes-Hermitages appellations. The Delas family have been involved in the production of wine in ... Learn MoreDelas Freres Cote-Rotie La Landonne 2006 (1.5L)$520.00 Per item -
A legendary cru... Over centuries, this mythical cru has built its reputation on a single hill, and an epic history. In the beginning, the hill was home to a hermitage founded by Henri Gaspard de Sterimberg in 1224. This knight, returning ... Learn MorePaul Jaboulet Aine 'La Chapelle' Hermitage 2019$599.01 Per item
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