Pique-Basses "Brusquembille"

Grapes: 70% Syrah + 30% Carignan

Region: Rhone, France

Vintage: 2021

Viticulture: Organic

Soils: Limestone + Clay

Vinification: De-stemmed, then fermented for 20 days in tanks

Aging: 8 months in tanks

Fining or Filtering: None

Sulfur: Minimal

Notes from the Importer: Inside the Bottle: La Brusquembille is a blend of 70% Syrah and 30% Carignan and shares the same position around the domaine as the entry-level Grenache wine, Le Chasse-Coeur. The soils are a mix of river alluvium brought in from the east (so a lot of limestone and quartzite), sand and limestone-rich clay. The grapes are completely de-stemmed for its twenty-day fermentation followed by its elevage in stainless steel tanks for eight months before bottling.

This wine is a cold, dark black beast with fine nuances. Syrah from the Southern Rhône Valley is not usually so compelling because it can often be too weedy and lacking in the cool spice and exotic notes that come with Syrahs further in the Northern Rhône Valley; however, this wine may throw you for a loop if you share this perspective on the subject. Without the Carignan to add more southern charm, it might easily be mistaken for a Crozes-Hermitage from a great year above the Chassis plain up by Mercurol, where this appellation's terraced limestone vineyards lie. It’s not as sleek in profile as that, but its savory red and black nuances can be a close match.