2022 Guy Farge "Grain de Silex" Saint-Peray Blanc

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Keith Mabry

Keith Mabry

K&L Buyer

Review Date: 01/2025

Saint-Peray as a region is on the cusp of its full-blown renaissance. This area which famously only produces whites and sparkling wines (what? a sparkling wine region in the Northern Rhone) nearly disappeared after the world wars. Only recently has it begun to reemerge and thankfully our friends at Domaine Guy Farge have a small parcel that is the perfect reflection of Saint-Peray. The "Grain de Silex" is mostly Roussanne with about 20% Marsanne. It is clean and pure, showing lovely notes of ripe nectarine, peach, lemon verbena and a stony mineral laden finish. Never heavy, just subtly complex and intriguing. A great addition to our Northern Rhone line-up!

Notes

Guy Farge took over the management of his family estate in 1980. Originally he sold his fruit to the Cave de Tain (where he worked) and then to Delas. In 2007, he began producing wines under his own label. Each year, the wines have grown and evolved as has Guy's winemaking prowess. Now working with his son Thomas, each bottling represents some of the best we have seen from his primarily granitic terroirs. The "Grain de Silex" is the only wine not on granitic soils, though. It comes from Saint-Peray which is south of Cornas and more famous for its clay and limestone. It is a blend of 90% Roussanne and 10% Marsanne fermented with indigenous yeasts and aged in stainless steel tanks. It is a white wine of finesse with subtle flavors of apricots, jasmine, and flint.