La Grange Saint-Andre 'Stella Maris' 2021
Region: Languedoc, France
Grapes: Syrah
Vineyard/Cellar Stats: Organic farming; clay + sandy soils; whole
cluster carbonic fermentation in stainless steel tanks for 3 days. No
pigeage or pumping over is performed. Rests an additional 7 months in
tank before bottling with no added So2, and is unfiltered and unfined;
zero-zero; 13%
Winemaker: Oliver Pichon
While working as a social worker in the busy city of Lyon, Olivier
Pichon staged with friend and fellow vigneron (and fellow “straight
job” escapee) Thierry Forestier in Souvignargues, a small village
located between the Cevennes and the Camargue in the Languedoc.
Olivier was hooked by the vines, and worked with Thierry from 2015 on
until he began making his own wine in 2018. Today Olivier farms four
hectares of vines, organically but not certified, planted to Grenache,
Cinsault, Carignan, Syrah and Grenache Blanc. The vines, planted to
goblet, benefit from warm summer days and cool nights, due to the
influence of Mont Aigoual and the Cévennes mountain range.
And wow, we're so happy he made the pivot to wine, because his wines
are gorgeous. We fell hard for this Syrah that drinks like the very
best Beaujolais Gamay. Bursting with bright and cinnamon-crunchy red
fruits on the nose, the palate is soft and juicy with blueberry, earth
and an electric energy that makes it irresistible, especially with a
slight chill. A most excellent wine to elevate your Tuesday night and
transport you to the natural wine bars of Paris where the cool kids
hang drinking zero-zero Syrah.
SERVE SLIGHTLY CHILLED