Saint-Joseph 350m Domaine Les Bruyeres 2015/17

Saint-Joseph "350m" Domaine Les Bruyeres, biodynamic, Northern Rhone Syrah, biodynamic, cassis, herbs, pepper, smooth textured natural red wine. Syrah really does excel in this part of the world, in fact, Saint-Joseph was my 'light-bulb' moment when it came to wine, and David Reynaud's is textbook. As the name suggests, the grapes come from a vineyard at 350m altitude on gravelly, well draining soils, which gives the grape freshness and concentration. There are deep flavours of ripe blackcurrants, a lick of spice and lovely smooth tannins with a lingering finish. The subtle bitter herbs that permeate the wine make it ideal for Mediterranean cuisine. Delicious with rib of beef or barbecued meats. I can't tell you how much I want a glass of this right now.

Domaine Les Bruyères has been in David’s family since the 18th century. Passed down from generation to the next, he started making wine with his mum after finishing his studies in 2000. He bought new plots, bringing the estate up to 20 hectares – plus 8 hectares farmed by friends (including Matthieu Barret down the road in Cornas) and converted to organic soon after. From 2003, he converted to biodynamic. All fruit is de-stemmed and then fermented in either old oak, steel or huge cement eggs. The wines are stunningly pure, elegant and easy drinking. Syrah at its best in the northern Rhone where the marginal climate for this often hefty grape produces wines with finesse which age beautifully.