2012  Patou

100% Syrah. Only 1.8ha owned. Organic farming, the wine is aged 24 months in neutral barrels, allowing the pure expression of fruit. Total annual production of the estate was just 600 cases in 2014. Each bottle is hand-labelled! Beautiful wine - the nose is dominated by a seriously powerful sprig of fresh spearmint that can't be missed!

2003  

1998  Amery Vineyards Hillside

2009  "Arena Mica"

Very simply, Stéphane Vedeau makes expressive, beautifully balanced wines in an approachable (and affordable!) style. Hermitage is the most famous Northern Rhone appellation and typically the Syrah-based reds from the region are powerful, deep, muscular wines that can take years to soften and develop. The 2009 J. Boutin Hermitage stands apart from the crowd for its elegant purity, its concentrated (not extracted) plush flavors of raspberry, cherry & a kiss of chocolatey iron. Its texture evokes the descriptor "seductive" & we don't toss that around carelessly or without merit. With tannins far softer than is typical for a young Hermitage, it absolutely may be drunk now and indeed, is a stunning glass of wine. Delicious now, it will also reward cellaring over the next several years.

2012  Sierra du Sud

Cult Cotes du Rhone producer Domaine Gramenon crafts small quantites of single site wines from super-low yields. This Cotes du Rhone is made from Syrah vines that are 8-30 years old. It spends 7months in wood, vat & barrique. Can age 4-8 years.

2011  WA 99

This cuvée is a vineyard plot selection. The grapes come exclusively from the oldest plot within the renowned area of "Les Bessards", in the heart of the Hermitage hill. This wine is only produced during the very best years, the production is deliberately limited to 6,000 bottles (75 cl.) per year. 100% Syrah.