Yves Cuilleron Saint Joseph 'Les Serines' 2021

Made from a selection of old sélection massale vines (i.e. grown from cuttings from the same vineyard), planted in south/southeast facing hillside terraces. “Les Serines” is not a district; it refers to the local name for Syrah. The grapes are hand-picked; and then sorted, crushed and partially destemmed in the cellar. Fermented in open, temperature-controlled vats for about 3 weeks, with regular cap-punching and pumping-over. Malolactic-fermented in barriques with native yeasts, in which then it is matured for 18 months. An intense complex nose of dark fruit enhanced by spice and liquorice. Clean attack, then evolving into something rich, dense and rounded on the palate. Long, mineral finish. Silky, fine-grained tannins. A wine made for laying down; best to wait 4-5 years, but it can also age 15 years or more.