Description
"This wine is from Collines Rhodaniennes, which basically translates to North Rhone without having to pay a premium for the better known AOC´s. An expressive nose on the small red fruits. On the palate, fresh red fruits and delicate spices give a lovely expression of the Syrah. Another great wine from Cuilleron." - Importer's Notes
"This pure Syrah is sourced from vineyards in Chavanay, known for its granite-infused soils, a large majority of which are set on terraces which make most mechanization difficult—if not impossible. Consequently, most of the vineyard work continues to be done by hand. The grapes for this Syrah were partially destemmed at harvest and fermented using indigenous yeasts in open-top vats for two weeks, and benefited from regular punch-downs and pump-overs. After the alcoholic fermentation, the wine was racked and aged for eight months in a combination of stainless-steel and small oak barrels (between one and four years old). The resulting wine was bottled with an egg-white fining but no filtration. Inviting scents of bramble berries, black cherry and white pepper. The palate is juicy, showing cassis, black plum and dark fruit tempered with moderate tannins and a hint of oak on the long, succulent finish." - Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant
"Yves Cuilleron took over the running of his family’s domaine 30 years ago in 1987. Yves was doing his national service in the Army, and there was no obvious successor in the family. Till Yves put his hand up for the challenge. The estate then consisted of just 4 hectares. Today, it’s 70+ hectares, including prime parcels in Condrieu, Côte Rôtie, St Joseph, St Péray, Cornas and Crozes-Hermitage. They are steep, terraced vineyards that require manual labour and are difficult, often impossible, to mechanise." - Huon Hooke
"I was young and free, and I could start with a ‘blank slate’, with no influences. I had my uncle’s help. But first, I was required to do a year’s internment with a producer in Cornas, Domaine Courbis. That was the 1985 harvest. Then I spent one year at a wine school for adults in Mâcon – 1986 – before my first harvest at the family domaine in 1987." - Yves Cuilleron
