Bottler: Domaine Les Bruyeres, 12 chemin du stade, 26600 Beaumont-Monteux / France
In the glass
Colour
Deep violet-red, almost opaque right to the rim.
Nose
Densely woven like dark velvet: beetroot, cassis, dark plum compote, dried plum, lingonberry compote and candied olives, framed by tar, liquorice, dark chocolate and freshly brewed coffee; needs air to open up.
Palate
Dense and interwoven on the palate, with charmingly softly sweet fruit, perfectly ripe tannins that still appear youthful and a pleasingly stony-salty imprint.
Character
Powerful, profound and underpinned by minerality – a still young wine with very good ageing potential and impressive depth.
Pairing
Robust, aromatic dishes such as lamb shanks with rosemary, braised beef cheeks in red wine jus or a spicy ratatouille stew.
Notes
Old Syrah vines on granite soils and gravel deposits near Gervans and Larnage; vinification in concrete, 12 months’ ageing in used barriques, 10 months in concrete and a further 10 months of bottle ageing – from a biodynamically certified (Biodyvin) estate that ranks among the five best producers in the appellation.
Tasting note
Colour & appearance
Deep violet-red, almost opaque right to the rim – a wine that announces its density in the glass.
Nose
Densely woven like a dark velvet carpet. With air, an intense bouquet of blackcurrant, dark plum compote and dried plum rises up, flanked by beetroot, lingonberry compote and candied olives. Above these lie notes of tar, liquorice, dark chocolate and freshly brewed coffee, underpinned by abundant stony minerality and impressive depth.
Palate
Dense and interwoven on the palate. The fruit from the nose appears charming and delicately sweet, carried by perfectly ripe tannins and an acidity that still seems youthful. Stony-saline notes provide structure and freshness.
Finish
Long and mineral-driven, with a saline aftertaste – pointing to very good ageing potential. Time in the cellar or generous decanting will be well rewarded.
Terroir & origin
From the finest vineyard sites of Crozes-Hermitage: granite soils and gravel deposits near Gervans and Larnage, where Les Bruyères cultivates old Syrah vines. Also characteristic of the estate are the galets – round pebbles from former riverbeds that store warmth during the day and release it to the vines at night.
Grape variety & vinification
Pure Syrah. Vinified in concrete, followed by 12 months of ageing in used barriques, 10 months in concrete and a further 10 months in bottle – a maturation that emphasises fruit and finesse rather than wood aromas.
Food recommendations
The ideal partner for robust, aromatic cuisine: rack of lamb with a herb crust, braised beef cheek, duck breast with blackcurrant jus or a spicy aubergine tagine.
Special features
David Reynaud, who has farmed Domaine Les Bruyères biodynamically according to the Biodyvin standard since 2005, is regarded as the “Prince of Syrah” – and this wine shows why: old vines, masterful balance between dark fruit and saline coolness, entirely without showy effects.
