Domaine Pichat, Syrah, Côte Rôtie "Champon's" Northern Rhône, France 2012

100% Syrah. Vines are an average of 40 years old, on schist and sandy soil. Farming practices are organic and grapes are hand-harvested; the wine undergoes fermentation for 3-4 weeks in stainless steel with malolactic fermentation following in oak barrels. The wine is then aged for two years in 400L oak (30% of which is new).

Firm and tannic, the Pichat Côte Rôtie is a wine of concentration, loaded with bold sweet fruit flavors and spice. It's medium-to-full in body, with lots of texture and a long, chewy finish.

Third-generation native Stephane Pichat is one of the young superstars of the northern Rhone. He has 10 acres of prime vineyards in Cote Rotie’s Cote Brune sector, spread across multiple parcels, each of which is naturally farmed according to the specific needs of its unique terroir. Since starting his eponymous domaine in 2000 while in his mid 20s, Pichat has garnered extensive acclaim and his bottlings are now Cotie Rotie benchmarks.