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2016 Collines Rhodaniennes Syrah
Lionel FauryEvery time I am looking to get cozy and warm around the holidays and want a red that won't knock me on my butt, I always turn to the beautiful low alcohol Syrah from Lionel Faury. Peppery and plummy with hints of black olive, sagebrush, dark cherries, and lavender, this Syrah has great finesse and never disappoints. —Bryant Vallejo
Lionel Faury may be best known for his earthy northern Rhône crus of Côte-Rôtie, St-Joseph, and Condrieu, but he also farms on the plateaus of the Collines Rhodaniennes. The Collines Rhodaniennes sit at a slightly higher altitude than the famous crus across the river and offer terrific values for Rhône wine lovers. If the great crus offer more longevity in bottle, this Syrah delivers irresistible approachability while young. The Faurys’ old-school style offers wonderful aromatics and textural complexity that always make them a pleasure to drink. Lovely notes of blackberries and violets shine amidst a backdrop of granite minerals and soft brambly tannins, offering just as much lively refreshment as earthy intensity. While many of the region’s reds are best suited to carnivorous pairings, the Faurys’ IGP has enough acidity to enjoy with lighter dishes, too. And at prices like this, it’s no wonder this little stunner is a staff favorite.
Wine Type: | red |
Vintage: | 2016 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | Syrah |
Appellation: | Collines Rhodaniennes |
Country: | France |
Region: | Northern Rhône |
Winemaker: | Lionel Faury |
Soil: | Granite |
Aging: | Aged for 6 months in 3 to 10 year old demi-muids |
Farming: | Lutte Raisonnée |
Alcohol: | 12% |
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Where the newsletter started
Where the newsletter started
Every three or four months I would send my clients a cheaply made list of my inventory, but it began to dawn on me that business did not pick up afterwards. It occurred to me that my clientele might not know what Château Grillet is, either. One month in 1974 I had an especially esoteric collection of wines arriving, so I decided to put a short explanation about each wine into my price list, to try and let my clients know what to expect when they uncorked a bottle. The day after I mailed that brochure, people showed up at the shop, and that is how these little propaganda pieces for fine wine were born.—Kermit Lynch