LA SYRARE 2017 (Domaine GALLETY)

La Syrare is not a randomly chosen name to qualify this wine : it is the estate's only one where Syrah is in majority in the blend composition, and the only one whose vines are planted in height on a terroir composed of blue marl and sandy clays. This brackish and marine geological formation dates back to the Pliocene (3 million years ago) and testifies to a marine transgression that took place at that time : the Mediterranean Sea advanced to the Lyon gates, covering the Rhône axis which Saint-Montran is part of. The deposits are first continental (sands and conglomerates) then brackish (clay and clay sands) before becoming totally marine with a dominant clay.

La Syrare is a blend of 70% Syrah and 30% Grenache, the vines are about fifty years old and yields are limited to 20 hl/ha. The grapes are manually harvested in boxes to preserve the fruit integrity, then they are fermented in concrete vats where the maceration lasts 25 days. The yeasts used for alcoholic fermentation are indigenous. The must is then aged in old oak barrels for 18 to 20 months. The wine is neither fined nor filtered.

Being produced in very small quantities, the glass bottles are thick and numbered.

Despite its more than fifteen years ageing potential, this wine is already incredibly drinkable. A few years in the cellar will allow it to gain in complexity and power.

In his youth, we recommend decanting it 4 hours before serving.