Hervé Souhaut Saint-Joseph Clos des Cessieux 2023

Hervé Souhaut trained as a biologist before turning to natural wine, and he works the steep granite slopes around the Saint-Joseph sector of the Ardèche, on the western bank of the northern Rhône. This Syrah comes from the single Clos des Cessieux vineyard, where decomposed granite gives sharp drainage and warm, light soils that ripen the grape fully while the altitude and cool air keep the wine fresh and aromatic. The fruit is farmed biodynamically and the wine is made naturally, without additives. It spends twelve months in barrel, where gentle oxygen exchange through the wood softens the tannin and knits the wine together without adding obvious oak, preserving the bright, peppery signature of cool-climate Syrah. The colour is a brilliant cherry red. The nose shows raspberry and ripe strawberry over black pepper, cracked olive and a faint smoke, the savoury edge that marks granite-grown Rhône Syrah. The palate is medium-bodied and fresh, with fine tannin, lively acidity and a long, spiced finish. Serve at 16 to 17 degrees. It suits grilled beef, lamb and game.