Syrah Entrevon VdF 2019

Wine Description for Syrah Entrevon VdF 2019 by Saint Jean Du Barroux

Colour & Appearance

Lightly transparent violet – a hint of the cooler vineyard site and the restrained, precise style of this Syrah.

Nose

The nose seduces initially with an idiosyncratic combination of yeasty notes and ripe fruit – almost like fresh plum cake straight from the oven. With aeration, the wine opens to a meaty, dark-fruited profile: cassis, black cherry, a whisper of dark chocolate and the characteristic note of black olive tapenade. To this is added a subtle yet unmistakable hint of aged beef – typical of great Syrahs from the Rhône Valley. This wine requires time and air to unfold its full potential.

Palate

On the palate, the Entrevon displays an impressive balance of freshness and ripeness. The tannins are already partially fine-grained, yet retain a robust, youthful structure. The acidity is lively and supports the dark, warm fruit – an interplay of forest berries, plums, cassis and violets, underpinned by notes of peat and olive tapenade. Powerful, yet elegant, juicy and meaty – a Syrah with genuine depth.

Finish

Long, spicy and persistent. The dark fruit and mineral freshness fade together, leaving a precise, invigorating finish.

Terroir & Origin

The grapes come from the single vineyard site Entrevon in Malaucène, situated at 350 metres elevation on the north-facing slope of Mont Ventoux. The sandy soils from the third period of the Miocene impart a distinctive mineral freshness and elegance to the wine, setting it clearly apart from the heavier Syrahs of the flatter Rhône Valley sites.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Pure Syrah, hand-harvested and 90% destemmed. Fermentation took place in concrete vat over twelve days, ageing for eleven months in stainless steel, followed by nine months bottle maturation. A purist, artisanal vinification that places terroir centre stage. Only 1,581 bottles were produced.

Food Pairing Suggestions

An ideal companion to estouffade d’agneau – lamb stew, but also to squid with chard and olive filling or a Provençal plate with broad beans, artichokes and black olive tapenade.

Special Characteristics

With barely 1,600 bottles annual production, the Entrevon is a rare gem. The wine is still in its youth and will gain considerably in complexity and harmony with further cellar time – at least two to three years.