Gramenon, Syrah "Sierra Du Sud" Côtes du Rhône, France 2019

100% Syrah.

Gramenon produces this pure Syrah from the land of Grenache. Syrah soaks up its surroundings as if it were at home, offering wild flavors of the Provençal countryside gently wrapped in a thick coat of tooth-staining deep purple fruit. The cool nights at elevation confer lovely freshness to this unhindered expression of southern sunshine.

The vines are 15-35 years old. The soil is clay, limestone varied with gravel, galets roulés, and/or sand. Grapes are partially de-stemmed; grapes macerate for 12 days in cement tank. The wine ages in both tank and in barrique for 7 months before bottling.

Domaine Gramenon does not merely champion organic farming, but also incorporates the concept of sustainability into daily life by growing their own food and raising their own animals. Though Michèle and Maxime continue to test the confines of the appellation, the cellars are unsurprisingly old-fashioned. The Laurents use gravity-fed tanks and age their wines in oak demi-muids and foudres.

That they take such gutsy risks as bottling old-vine fruit with so little sulfur, without fining or filtration, only demonstrates the lengths they will go to in order to highlight the freshness, purity, and intoxicating aromas of their small, rare production.

This product is certified biodynamic.