70% Syrah from the granite and gneiss soils of Lesquerde, 30% Grenache on marl and black and grey schist in Tautavel, Maury and Latour de France. One-third is whole-bunch fermented. Aged 20 months in 1-year-old barrels. Very dark crimson. Intense and richly fruited and spiced on the nose, packed with dark fruit and black peppery spice but with an invinting dusty/stony overlay. Although there is lots of oak and fruit sweetness here, it is the texture that is really notable: very smooth and polished and with a dark, dry finesse and it is not as sweetly fruited on the palate as I expected from the aroma. Rich in fruit but it has a real sense of place in the dry heat of Roussillon's great vineyards. Long and spicy on the finish and with that lovely dry quality that helps to obscure/balance the alcohol. The freshness comes more from the texture and the dry tannins than from the acidity, which I guess is quite moderate. Suprisingly juicy on the finish. Lovely wine, elegant despite its intensity. (JH) 17.5/20 Points