Cave Saint Desirat Syrah

This item is part of the Pennywise Sale and will be ready for pickup at or after 5 PM on Friday, May 3.

Rhone Syrah is almost never this cheap, especially from the north. And that’s where this superb little bargain baby is from, specifically vineyards in and around Saint Joseph. For comparison’s sake, a decent Saint Joseph is now about $30. This wine is $10.

It’s worth much more than $10.

The vines are planted on spectacularly steep granitic slopes, terraced to keep the vines-and the workers- from sliding down into the valley. The grapes are 100% hand harvested due to the very steep nature of the slopes. Long cool fermentation. Bottled without fining. An elegant wine with a heady perfume of violets, jasmine, and baking spices, backed by black cherry and cassis. The palate is velvety, with silky tannins and a rich, rounded mouthfeel. Black and red cherry, plum, licorice, and herbs. Mmmm! Your friends will never guess how little you paid for this.here is a delicious concentration of black and red berry notes abetted by hints of liquorice, star anise and fennel, and a wild herbaceous character running throughout.