Syrah Entrevon VdF 2020

Wine Description for Syrah Entrevon VdF 2020 from Saint Jean Du Barroux

Colour & Appearance

A slightly transparent, vibrant violet – pale enough to reveal the cool altitude, saturated enough to underscore the character of Syrah.

Nose

The nose demands patience – and rewards it. Initially, yeasty notes and ripe fruit emerge, reminiscent of fresh plum cake. With air, the wine opens to a dark fruit and meaty bouquet: cassis, cherry, dark chocolate and a hint of black olive tapenade. A subtle yet characterful note of aged beef lends depth and complexity to the nose.

Palate

On the palate, a powerful yet elegant Syrah emerges with impressive balance between freshness and ripeness. The tannin is already partially fine-grained and supple, yet retains a robust, structure-giving side. The acidity is lively and precise. At its core: a dense fruit tapestry of forest berries, plums, cassis and a hint of cherry, complemented by peat, violets and olive tapenade. Juicy, meaty and profound.

Finish

Long and spicy with sustained fruit sweetness and a mineral aftertaste. The wine still shows development potential – further cellaring is worthwhile here.

Terroir & Origin

The Entrevon parcel lies in Malaucène at 350 metres altitude on the north-facing slope of Mont Ventoux. The sandy soils from the Miocene (third period) bestow finesse and a cool, mineral tension upon the wine, clearly distinguishing it from the heavier Syrahs of the southern Rhône.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Pure Syrah, hand-harvested on 9 September 2020. 90% destemmed, twelve days of fermentation in concrete vat, followed by eleven months ageing in stainless steel tank and nine months bottle age. A craftsman-like precise vinification that places terroir centre stage. Only 1,581 bottles produced.

Food Pairing Suggestions

Ideal with Estouffade d’agneau – lamb stew, which mirrors the meaty depth of the wine. Equally convincing with squid with chard and olive filling or a vegetarian plate of broad beans, artichokes and black olive tapenade, which beautifully echoes the olive notes in the wine.

Special Characteristics

A micro-cuvée of extraordinary provenance: the combination of altitude, Miocene sandy soils and the cool north-facing exposure of Mont Ventoux yields a Syrah that deliberately sets itself apart from the opulence of the appellation – elegant, precise and possessed of genuine terroir personality.