"The beautiful 2005 Syrah Cuvee d'Honneur boasts a deep, dense, ruby/purple color to the rim as well as a rich, sumptuous perfume of charcoal, graphite, blackberries, pepper, flowers, and roasted meats. A beautiful texture, medium to full body, good underlying acidity, and admirable freshness and purity suggest it will provide immense pleasure over the next 7-8 years." 90-92 Points
- The Wine Advocate, Robert Parker
December, 2006
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2005 Syrah Cuvee d'Honneur
Given the historically high interest in "natural" products of all types, it's no surprise that wines made with lower than normal levels of sulphites would begin to develop a following. This is especially true in France, where a handful of talented young winemakers are producing some of the most exciting wines in their appellations by taking a "non-intervention" approach to winemaking. It's a high stakes gamble that requires enormous attention to detail, along with a fresh approach to traditional cellar practices. One of the acknowledged leaders of the movement is Thierry Allemand of Cornas, whose "Cuvée Spécial" Cornas is thought to be the benchmark example of Northern Rhône Syrah. Allemand has kindly shared his winemaking ideas with us over the years, encouraging us to try these techniques with our Syrah. We have recognized his role by naming the resulting wine "Cuvée d'Honneur'. In 2005, our Cuvée d'Honneur Syrah took a dramatic step forward in both complexity and intensity. The production remains small, by necessity -- less than 10 barrels. The aroma is a striking combination of multiple spices, with earthy tones of bacon fat and leather. The real charm, though, is the underlying fruit. Big, grapey and supple, this wine is a textbook example of the heights reachable with old world technique and new world fruit. We bottled 250 cases.
150 cases produced
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