Description

This is just a Vins de France. Villard L’Appel des Sereines is 100% Syrah from villages around the Rhone but it is not as humble as its appellation might suggest. It is packed with blackberries, jubes and plums, graphite, dry earth and pepper. Some flesh on the palate but it is mineral and structured and savoury. In other words, you have a delicious wine. And if you hold on for a few years it will certainly develop violets and rose petals along with some red berry fruit. I’d drink this wine from now and pair it with grilled lamb.

Francois Villard is a rising star of the Northern Rhone. Their focus is making wines from Viognier and Syrah. Their style includes extended hang-time of the vine and longer times in barrel too. The wines have big flavours, firm structure and plenty of potential to age.

Rhone Valley

One of the great wine regions in the world. Situated along the Rhone river in South East France there is a distinct divide between the Syrah dominant North where the Mistral wind cools and regulates the temperature and the hot lands in the South where Grenache is at its peak. The region produces everything from easy going quaffers to wines that demand long term cellaring.

Shiraz/Syrah 

A bit of a chameleon, Shiraz can change how it looks depending on terroir and/or wine maker influence. The Syrah based wines of Northern Rhone are dry and austere while the Shiraz of Barossa is rich and fleshy. A variety that lends itself to long aging but can be drunk at any time of its evolution.