Vinsobres, Les Haut de Julien, 2010
One of the highest villages in Southern Rhône at 300 metres above sea level, Vinsobres is one of, if not the, best areas in the southern Rhône for growing Syrah. This 50% Syrah/50% Grenache blend is made from old vines and is aged in 15% oak barriques for one year. Deeply coloured but gently perfumed violet tones, svelte tannins, juicy spiced fruit, warm and quite seductive but stylish and composed, wonderful flavours of wild strawberry, blueberry, salt, cassis and spice. Svelte, appealing and so fine. Excellent.
critic reviews
(sourced from 80+-year-old vines that are co-planted to grenache and syrah): Opaque ruby. Wild, intensely perfumed bouquet evokes red and dark berry preserves, potpourri and olive tapenade. Powerful, deeply pitched black raspberry and blackcurrant flavors show surprising energy, with zesty acidity providing spine. Finishes sappy, sweet and persistent, with clinging florality. Marc Perrin told me that the two varieties ripen at the same pace here and are thus able to be harvested together, which is very rare.