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. This cuvée is a blend of Syrah (70%) and carignan (30%) made from grapes grown in plots rich in alluvium deposits of sand and clay. The plots are situated in a zone known as “Piquebas” which surrounds the estate.