Cuilleron Saint Joseph 'Les Pierres Sèches' Syrah 2009

‘Hints of smoke and black olive. Sappy and chewy but surprisingly lithe; the red and dark berry and bitter chocolate flavors are at once taut and rich, thanks to lively minerality. Finishes with fine-grained tannins and lingering smokiness. I like this wine's energy.’ 89 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar
RRP: $56

“Yves Cuilleron is a superstar of the Northern Rhône” thewinedoctor.com

"Since I can remember, I've always loved tastings and good food. Wine has been part of my family's history for four generations. The estate wasn't destined for me, but my passion for winemaking drew me back to my roots, and in 1987 I took over my father's estate." Yves Cuilleron
“In the space of a decade, Yves Cuilleron has established himself as one of the leading lights of France’s Northern Rhône region. He’s a modernist, but not overly so: his wines straddle neatly the divide between traditionalists and the new-wave, in the sense that they retain their sense of place, but express their site in a slightly more approachable, immediate way. There's purity to the fruit, and where new oak is used it isn't excessive.” Wineanorack.com

Price: $49.99