The northern Rhone is the spiritual home of the Syrah grape, also known as Shiraz. Producers throughout the world aspire to produce wines as sublime as the best from places such as Hermitage and Cote Rotie.
Tasting notes: A dark smoky edge softens the black fruit, fig, tobacco and roasted chestnut notes. The long fleshy finish has excellent buried minerality.
Tasting notes: A VDP Viognier sourced from organically-maintained vineyards situated just outside Condrieu, the wine has foral/peachy/tropical fruit aromas and favours. The medium-bodied palate has a viscous texture and a long, lifted finish.
Tasting notes: Sourced from the best and oldest vines on the estate, on south/southeast-facing terraces overlooking Chavanay. "Les Chaillets” is not a district but the local name for terraces. This world class Viognier should be drunk with shellfish over the next 5 years and will keep through to 2018 as the aromas continue to evolve.
Tasting notes: "The extraordinary white Hermitage Cuvee de l'Oree is mindboggling in both 1995 and 1996. Both wines represent the essence of white Hermitage. Made from 100% Marsanne from extremely old vines and microscopic yields of 12 hectoliters per hectare, the wines overwhelm any evidence of their barrique aging. Both possess extraordinary intensity, full body, the multi-layered texture of a great Montrachet, and intense, honeyed, mineral-like fruit flavors that ooze over the palate with remarkable richness, yet no sense of heaviness. These are undoubtedly the greatest white Hermitages I have ever tasted. Both should drink fabulously for another 2-3 years, and then shut down for 10-15 years. Both wines should easily last 40-50 years - assuming excellent storage." Robert Parker 97 points
