February 21, 2023 - Surprising balance, carries that 15% ABV really well
December 29, 2022 - First bottle of nine. Promising but still young.
Lilac on the eyes, nose, and palate. Black and purple fruit.
At one point, my glass gave me a nose of raw beef. After a top-up, it didn't anymore.
Let's see in two years.
February 13, 2022 - Dark ruby in the glass with dark fruit and some meat and earthiness on the nose. Plum, blackberries, game, leather, and black pepper on the palate, drinking in a great spot now. Aided by the viognier blended in for freshness and lift without taking away anything from the syrah, phenomenal wine.
January 30, 2022 - A wonderful iteration of Cote-Rotie, wilder than most, but only in the best way. Aromas of dark berries and game are matched with some impressive acidity and firm tannins, which collectively provide a strong, vibrant backbone and compelling structure to what is a heavy (15% abv) glass.
September 18, 2021 - short note - violets, game meat, dark berries, smooth tannins, modern style/nature wine northern rhone, very well structured. medium+ acidity, outstanding quality 92++
January 14, 2021 - Still quite young - tons of energy. Dark berries and game meat on the palate. The nose has violet, currant, bacon fat, blueberry and pepper. Very curious to see where this goes in a few years
December 31, 2020 - Not tasted yet. Here's what I know.
Vintner Jean Michel Stephan doesn't do filtration or add sulfur. Organically grown in all plots.
Les Binardes is a terraced plot of gneiss and granite in the Côte Blondes.
Field blend of 90% Syrah planted 1986 and 10% Viognier
No wood, One year in steel tanks.
January 17, 2020 - (Ampuis)
Pur, frais, digeste, minéral, on a le côté fin et concentré des 2018 tout en fruits, avec un nez de syrah nature qui me faisait penser aux Miquettes (epices, violette...). Il a du volume, la finesse des C-R, et un côté glou-glou vraiment décalé sur le salon où les vins sont souvent sérieux, boisés, stricts... Il goutait vraiment bien! Et puis j'aime la présence de viognier pour calmer la puissance solaire des récents millésimes!