Syrah – Matt Walls Wine Blog

Olivier et Lafond

Matt — Sat, 22 Dec 2018 16:02:13 +0000

Five-year-old négociant business, a partnership between two winemaking consultants. Violets and plum fruit on the nose, good sense of ripeness, almost sweet core to the fruit. A little on the heady side, alcohol is a little high. Good, fairly straightforward style with discernible Gigondas character.

Olivier et Lafond

Matt — Sat, 22 Dec 2018 15:52:58 +0000

Five-year-old négociant business, a partnership between two winemaking consultants. Victoria plum with some darker, brambly fruit. Medium-bodied, pretty powerful acidity and tight tannins – a structured Côtes-du-Rhône with warming alcohol on the finish. Good breadth of juicy, ripe fruit on the mid-palate. Good concentration.

Le Vieux Donjon

Matt — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 12:17:42 +0000

Lovely harmonious nose, detailed berry fruits and an underlying dry herbal element. Medium to full body, bright acidity and agreeably dense, but finely fibrous tannins. Mineral edge brings balance and length. Very well balanced, almost unassuming in a way, but deeply authentic, savoury and – crucially – a highly drinkable style of Chateauneuf that will age with interest.

St Jean du Barroux

Matt — Fri, 14 Sep 2018 12:03:29 +0000

Lavender, plum, damson, all lifted by a jot of VA. Full-bodied, mouthcoating fruit and fine, but muscular, tannins. Very long indeed. The finish is gently warming but the fruit is very fresh, and it’s nonetheless delicious.

Tanners

Matt — Fri, 07 Sep 2018 15:08:54 +0000

Made by the Gonnet family of Font de Michelle in Châteauneuf. Appealing bright raspberry fruits, some herbal detail. Medium-bodied, juicy Grenache fruit with good acidity. Lively and well balanced Côtes-du-Rhône with good typicity. Gentle wet-clay tannins on the finish. Juicy and easy to drink.

Domaine des Anges

Matt — Fri, 07 Sep 2018 14:35:44 +0000

Raspberry, raspberry leaf and a touch of cherry, some savoury elements among the fruit. Light- to medium-bodied, lively, with good acidity and brisk, snappy tannins. Not terribly long or complex, but it’s refreshing and drinkable. Balanced, dry finish – good mid-week drinking. They’ve been easy on the extraction, which was a wise move.