2022 Pierre Gaillard Saint-Joseph Clos de Cuminaille, Northern Rhone

Pierre Gaillard Saint-Joseph Clos de Cuminaille is a standout Syrah from one of the most distinctive single sites in the northern sector of Saint-Joseph. The Clos de Cuminaille vineyard is located near Malleval, where steep granite slopes and a cool climate allow Syrah to ripen slowly and evenly. First planted by Gaillard himself in the early 1980s, this site helped redefine the quality potential of Saint-Joseph, and remains one of its reference-point expressions.

Gaillard brings a Burgundian sensibility to his winemaking, with an emphasis on elegance, perfume and terroir transparency. The fruit is hand harvested, partially fermented with whole bunches, and aged in fine-grained French oak barrels, about a third of which are new. The result is a Syrah of structure, finesse and aromatic lift.

In the glass, it delivers a beautiful perfume of violets, crushed raspberry, blueberry and fresh pepper, with notes of cured meat, olive tapenade and wild herbs. The palate is sleek and composed, with dark cherry and plum flavours wrapped in fine tannins and laced with mineral tension. There's both power and precision, making it a brilliant expression of granite-grown Syrah.

Ideal food pairings include roast duck with cherry sauce, venison with juniper, or grilled lamb with rosemary and garlic. Try it with aged Gouda or mushroom pâté for a vegetarian match. While expressive in youth, this wine will reward cellaring for 10 to 15 years, developing savoury depth and smoky complexity.