Bright, fairly clear purple. Delicately perfumed; blackberries and vanilla. Very ripe, almost fat, silky textured, with rich black cherry fruit. Complete and already giving pleasure. Now-2013

Product Code: PID110

A recent visit confirmed our confidence in young Stéphane Pichat, who began in 2000 with tiny quantities of fruit, has stuck a crowded cellar on to his house in Vérenay, and has only around 10,000 bottles a year to sell. Unusually he has invested in a new basket-press, which he feels suits Syrah well.

His Condrieu, from one south-facing parcel which gives him just three barrels (one new each vintage), is just the style we really like, with the stone fruit balanced by sinewy minerality. His Vin de Pays Syrah is actually from his young vines within the Côte Rôtie appellation, a really pure and juicy example. From his three bottlings of Côte Rôtie we have chosen his principal wine, Champons, 85% from the vineyard of that name in the northern, schistous sector of the appellation, with the rest from Plomb and Cognet (this is really getting anoraky). Stéphane says his vines are 30-50 years old. There’s about 2% Viognier in this wine.