Bott First Flight Syrah 2023

First Flight is the introductory Syrah from Graeme and Julie Bott, sourced from the Collines Rhodaniennes, the hilly country that surrounds the northern Rhône's famous crus. The vines grow on a mix of clay and limestone soils, where the clay holds moisture and the limestone adds freshness and structure, allowing the grapes to ripen evenly under the region's warm Mediterranean-influenced climate. This is the same hands-on, sustainable approach the Botts bring to their cru wines, applied to younger, more approachable fruit. The wine spends nine months in oak barrels, a shorter ageing than their named-village wines, which keeps the fruit bright and the texture supple while still adding a layer of sweet spice. The result is fresh and expressive rather than heavy. It pours a vivid purple, with a nose of blackberry and plum lifted by cinnamon, clove and the cracked black pepper that marks northern Rhône Syrah. The palate is juicy and medium bodied at 12.5 per cent, with soft tannins and a clean, lightly spiced finish. Serve at 15 to 16 degrees, with or without a short decant, alongside grilled pork or roast vegetables.