Aurélien Chatagnier Syrah Collines Rhodaniennes IGP 2019

Aurélien Chatagnier has a well-deserved reputation as one of the best young winemakers in the Rhône. He started his own domaine in 2002 while still in his early 20s, after working as a teenager for Domaine Jamet and then François Villard, who encouraged him to strike out on his own. Beginning with just one hectare of rented vines, Aurélien built up his domaine by purchasing, bartering, and replanting vineyards near the town of St-Pierre-de-Boeuf in the northern part of the Saint Joseph appellation. He farms organically and uses a light hand in the cellar, sparking fermentation with native yeasts in used oak, and bottling without fining or filtration. The steep, granite vineyards provide a distinctive minerality, and Aurélien’s clean, lean style of winemaking really allows the terroir to shine through. 100% syrah, this bottle needs just a few minutes to open up in the glass before displaying notes of olive tapenade, cured meats, and blackberry compote. Medium-plus bodied frame, it has some nice, ripe tannins that add depth and complexity to the texture. Marvelous stuff. Organically grown, low-intervention, vegan.