2019 Domaine de la Ville Rouge Terre d'Eclat Crozes Hermitage 750 ml

Edgar Girard had it made. 

Sitting on land in the most prized sliver of Crozes-Hermitage, he’d work his tail off for six months, then sell his grapes to Guigal and Chapoutier—two of the world’s greatest Syrah maestros. 

But when you’ve got Syrah that phenomenal, you need to keep some for yourself—which is exactly what Edgar’s son Sébastien did. His 2019 Terre d’Eclat embodies the savory muscularity and boundless depth that have made the Northern Rhône a mecca for varietal Syrah. 

The Northern Rhône, which is smaller than Châteauneuf-du-Pape, produces only 5% of Rhône Valley wines. Its daunting slopes, chilly winds, and hard soils make it an extremely difficult place for viticulture, but when those challenges are properly channeled, the landscape yields Syrah of profound power and complexity. The region is so devoted to the grape that other red varieties are not permitted, and that dedication shows in the refinement of Northern Rhône Syrahs. 

The vineyards of Domaine de la Ville Rouge sit on layers of pebbles and clay in Crozes-Hermitage, the appellation that surrounds the famed hill of Hermitage. The Girards have farmed this land since 1919, and when Sébastien joined in 2006 he began transitioning it to organic and biodynamic production. His wines are now so revered they’ve been served at the Ritz Carlton in Paris and in the French Parliament.

Sébastien destems his Syrah to preserve its silky fruit, then ferments it with native yeast before giving it one year in used French oak. It’s at once broad-shouldered and precise, with powerful black fruit and notions of spice, licorice, and espresso, all swathed in velour tannins. The result, as Wine Advocate put it, is “a top-notch effort.”