Brown soils derived from coarse-grained, black mica granite, fractured and locally altered give this Syrah beautiful minerality with graphite notes. Chapoutier’s Hermitage (or Ermitage, as they call it) vineyards have been biodynamic for many years now and the quality of both their red and white wines is admirably dramatic.

The two most celebrated Syrah-based wines in the northern Rhône are Hermitage (birthplace of Syrah) which appends its name to the town of Tain, and Côte Rôtie, grown on steep terraces above the town of Ampuis 45 minutes’ drive north of Tain.

Greffieux is situated at the foot of the Hermitage hill. The harvest, totally destemmed, is vinified in cement vat. A long maceration allows a gentle tannin extraction. Only the free-run juice is used. This syrah has smells of jammy red berries, fur and smoked charcuterie. Sweet spices, tonka beans and a hint of cedar.