$51.99 on 6+ Gramenon wines (code: 6saves3)

96 pts Decanter:
Barrel sample, so a provisional score. Lovely nose – so floral and herbal, no reduction. Black olives and dark chocolate. It's full and silky, with no angularity to the tannins. Good acidity; it's a very structural wine that needs some time to settle and harmonise – or drink it young if you love cleansing tannins. From vines more than 40 years old, planted on the domaine's finest terroir in Vinsobres. Pure Syrah, all whole bunches, three months maceration. Aged in used demi-muids for 12 months.

JLL ****(*) dark robe; the nose gives a prolonged aroma with a core of blackberry, a hint of salt and violet. The palate achieves an offer of sève [old vine sap], with finesse of texture, oiliness, and really good reach on it, proper length here - wow, it really motors into the finish. The balance is decent, too - it’s serious table wine. From spring 2025. 2037-39 Feb 2024

100% Syrah (mid-1980s) from gravel, limestone with clay soils at 350 metres on the plateau of Montbrison, whole bunch fermentation, a small crush, a 6 month steel vat maceration, then raised used 228-litre oak casks 6 months, unfined, unfiltered, no SO2, made in 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, “it’s to best express the terroir, and avoid the climate effect being too great on the Syrah; the stems change the form of the wine”, organic, biodynamic wine, 2,000 b