Where as Grenache rules the southern Rhone Valley, Syrah is the lead fiddle up north. The vast majority of all the red wine produced is 100% Syrah.

2015 JEAN MICHEL GERIN SYRAH “LA CHAMPINE” $23

The Syrah brings in smoke, violets and red fruits. The combination gives the wine a softer entry with underlying power and finesse. Inky ruby with vibrant cherry and black currant aromas are complemented by suggestions of black pepper, violet and olive. Taut and structured on entry, then more open in the mid-palate, it offers red berry and bitter cherry flavors sweetened by a floral pastille nuance and a hint of cola. Shows very good lift and focus on the gently tannic finish, which hangs on with very good, floral persistence.

2017 YVES CUILLERON CROZES-HERMITAGE “laya” $36

“Laya” comes from a single 2 hectares vineyard south of the Tain L’Hermitage. The grapes (Syrah) are partially destemmed and placed in open vats for an approximate three week cuvaison. Malolactic fermentation occurs in barrels where the wine is left to age for 16 months before bottling. Juicy, smoke-tinged fruit that veers toward the red end of the spectrum completely coats the not-insubstantial tannins, and the push-pull between acid and ripeness makes this wine eminently drinkable even at this youthful stage

2017 YVES CUILLERON “les pierres seches” ST.JOSEPH $37

a few of us were unanimous in agreeing this is one greatest wines for the price coming out of France today.

2018 DOMAINE JEANNE GAILLARD SYRAH “Terres de Mandrin” $20

This vineyard is planted in the plain of the Drôme around the Crozes-Hermitage appellation and on the granite plateaus overlooking the Saint-Joseph appellation. The soils are especially adapted to vine-growing. They produce fresh and supple wines that are typical of the northern part of the Rhone Valley.

2017 xavier gerard cote rotie $75

An assemblage of the estate’s finest parcels, the single Cote-Rotie cuvée produced at the Gerard domaine is sourced principally from the Mollard lieu-dit (65%) with the balance a mix of Font-Jean, Viallière, and La Landonne. Although its profile is marked by a regal elegance that makes this wine seductively drinkable in its youth, older examples offer strong testimony that the Cote-Rotie from Domaine Gerard has the capacity to provide a pure and tenacious expression of this noble terroir for decades in the bottle.

2018 YVES CUILLERON ROUSSANNE $22

The Roussanne is sourced from vineyards in Chavanay and in St. Michel sur Rhone, essentially granite-infused soils. The fermentations (alcoholic and malolactic) are done in stainless steel; then, the wine is racked into a mix of barrels and stainless steel cuves for a six-month elevage before bottling.