A fascinating natural wine from the northern Rhône Valley – wild, mineral-driven and of rare purity, bringing the essence of its steep terroir unfiltered into the bottle.
Bottler: Jean-Michel Stephan, 1 ancienne route de Semons, 69420 Tupin-et-Semons / France
In the glass
Colour
Dense purple with violet reflections and a slight natural cloudiness
Nose
Dark berries (elderberry, blackberry, mulberry), sour cherry, white & black pepper, juniper, cinnamon, liquorice, dark chocolate, garrigue, rosemary, thyme, green olive and a distinctive iron-laden, stony minerality
Palate
Lean and taut with silky texture; bloody, iron-laden character, fine Syrah fruit, dominant spice from liquorice, white pepper and juniper, supported by a cool, mineral framework
Character
Sexy and invigorating – a successful marriage of classical Côte Rôtie elegance and the untamed wildness of a true natural wine
Pairing
Roasted lamb rack with olives and feta, orecchiette puttanesca, artichoke with bulgur and rocket
Notes
Consistent low-intervention winemaking without additives, filtration or sulphur; semi-carbonic fermentation of whole bunches; 12 months maturation in cement tank; vineyard sites on 40% steep slopes with leucogneiss and quartz soils; vineyard name from the Napoleonic register
Tasting note
Colour & Appearance
Dense, luminous purple with seductive violet undertones and a characteristic, slight cloudiness – the unfiltered hallmark of a wine that has been left entirely untouched.
Nose
The bouquet is of striking depth and precision. Elderberry, blackberry and mulberry form a dark, juicy fruit foundation, elegantly woven through with white and black pepper, juniper and cinnamon. Liquorice and dark chocolate lend volume, whilst black tea and fresh rosehip open a cool, floral dimension. Beneath: raw iron, blood and pure stone – the signature of leucogneiss and quartz. The southern flourish comes from garrigue, rosemary, thyme and green olive.
Palate
Slender, taut and suffused with a silky coolness that defines the northern Rhône and which we cherish. The Syrah’s fruit reveals itself in its purest, most unadorned form – precise and vibrant. Juniper, white pepper and liquorice dominate the mid-palate, Mediterranean herb notes underscore the character with warmth and wildness. The tannins are fine and integrated, the acidity enlivens without demanding.
Finish
Long, mineral and marked by persistent spicy freshness. The iron-laden, almost bloody aftertaste has the final word – unrelenting and unforgettable.
Terroir & Origin
The grapes come from two hectares in the vineyard sites Tupin and Côteau du Tupin with a gradient of 40 per cent. The name Les Binardes derives from the Napoleonic vineyard register. Leucogneiss and quartz characterise the subsoil, the vines are between 15 and 40 years old, and yields are deliberately kept low at around 30 hl/ha.
Grape Variety & Vinification
90% Syrah, complemented by 10% Viognier. After harvest comes a cold maceration of whole bunches, fermentation takes place using the semi-carbonic method with regular remontage and pigeage. Twelve months ageing in cement tank, no filtration, no sulphur, no additives – radical craftsmanship in its purest form.
Food Pairing Suggestions
An ideal companion to roasted lamb loin with a gratin of olive, feta and beans. Equally compelling with Orecchiette Puttanesca or a simple artichoke with bulgur and rocket – dishes that mirror its wild, Mediterranean soul.
Special Characteristics
A natural wine that needs no apologies. Maison Stephan consistently eschews any intervention – the result is a Côte Rôtie of electric vibrancy, uniting classicism and wildness in rare harmony. Sexy, provocative and absolutely worth drinking.
EN 
DE 
FR 
IT 
