Grain Syrah Biodynamic Marie-Therese Chappaz 2019

Grain Syrah Biodynamic Marie-Therese Chappaz, biodynamic wine, Switzerland, 100% Syrah, Granitic soils, from the Fully Les Claives vineyard. A wine of sheer class, very fresh as one would expect from Syrah on Granite soils. The wine comes from low yields so the appearance is deep and dark demonstrating the concentration and body. The nose is fresh and youthful at the moment, notes of spice, with menthol notes sprinkled with vanilla. Then comes the palate, fine and elegant, which lines the palate with spices, black pepper and finishes with flavors of cocoa. A stunning glass of Syrah, for long ageing and serious food matching, the best cuts of meat, veal and braised beef.

A note on the incredible ‘Les Claives’ vineyard in the Valais…

‘Les Claives is one of the most difficult hills to cultivate in Valais, and perhaps even the world. There is no road to it and the top is reached by a small cable car. It ranges from 450 to 650 meters in altitude. Due to its steep slope, loamy deposits formed by the wind accumulate in the flatter parts while elsewhere, the soil is rocky and dry. The Claives appellation, with its successive terraces, is emblematic of this local hillside. Watch the video…‘

Domaine Marie Therese Chappaz, lies on the south facing slopes of the beautiful Valais region of Switzerland just above the town of Fully.

Wine production in the region dates back to the 2nd century BC and the vines carpet the lower slopes of the high mountains, up to over 1000 metres.  The climate is hot in summer and bitterly cold in winter.  There are over 300 days of sunshine per year. The mountains provide a diverse terroir including loess, granite, alluvial, clay and limestone. There are a multitude of grapes from the well known Gamay and Pinot Noir to lesser known Cornalin and Petite Arvine. These conditions and such diversity make for a wide range of wine styles and exciting flavours.

Marie Therese Chappaz took over her family estate when it was just 1.5 hectares back in the mid 80s.  She has worked using biodynamic farming for over 20 years. She has built a reputation for elegant, crystalline wines with depth and style which age very well. Her passion and commitment to quality have earned her international recognition.  In 2016, her estate was listed in the Gault Millau guide as one of the best 100 wineries in the world.

Today she farms 11 hectares of vines on the slopes above her house in Fully and in nearby villages, Charrat, Leytron and Chamoson.  Five of the vineyards are only reachable on foot or in a small cable car. Now on her 33rd vintage, Marie Therese Chappaz continues to produce over twenty different Cuvee of world class wine which are highly sort after all over Switzerland and around the world.