Clos des Mourres 'A Table' Syrah 2019

Region: Vaison-La-Romaine < Côtes du Rhône <France

Grapes: Syrah

Winemaker: Jean-Philippe & Ingrid Bouchet

Jean-Phillippe and his wife Ingrid purchased 5 acres in 2009 to start Clos de Mourres, named after a wild lettuce Jean-Philippe used to gather with his grandfather. After harvesting 'mourres' on their farm in the Southern Rhône, they would make a dinner of salad to accompany the other products they grew.  These memories of simpler times with his grandfather inspired Jean-Philippe in his old-school, low intervention work at their domaine.  He says, "We are craftsman farmers, because the term “craftsman” implies that we work manually, but especially farmer, because I chose to work the Earth, and in a natural way. We found an answer and solutions to our personal convictions in Biodynamics: getting healthy and living soils, favoring the exchanges between roots and soils thanks to microorganisms. It is, in our opinion, the only way to get the pure expression of the
terroir. All our work is planned according to the lunar calendar,
respecting the growth cycles of vines. We spray only concoctions of compost and silica."

Great bottles of Syrah from Cornas, Côte-Rôtie and Crozes-Hermitage have a wild grace that sets them apart, with minerality and an unmistakable floral quality that make them coveted by wine geeks.  But Syrah is no one-trick pony; it’s greatness isn’t confined to a handful of AOCs, nor is it limited in expression to the big, tannic versions. In fact, one of the most exciting Syrah's we’ve tried in a long time is this “A Table! bottle from Clos des Mourres that is light, bright and chillable – and it comes not from Cornas or Crozes, but about a 100 miles away in the Southern Rhône region of Vaucluse.

There is vitality and aromatic purity in this wine that comes from
Jean-Phillippe's meticulous farming and hand-off cellar practices. That 50% whole cluster fruit gives the wine an added layer of freshness and approachability which makes it irresistible.  While it has the supple fruitiness of a cru Beaujolais, there's a soulful savoriness here that is 100% Syrah.  It smells like classic Rhône Syrah, with purple flowers, black olives and smoky bacon, but the juicy palate is down to chill and party, with ripe strawberry, plum and orange zest.

OPTIONAL, BUT WE LIKE IT SERVED WITH A SLIGHT CHILL.