Syrah with a little bit of Grenache, Cyril Fhal’s négoce from around Padern. One of Roussillon’s best producers in my opinion, if not the best, his wines are always very complex and rich, and I’ve rarely seen someone from the region being as demanding with his wines as Fhal.
The first nose is very southern in the style, you get the Syrah notes of violets with the definite fruity-tonka Grenache behind, with a garrigue touch to the nose. It’s already pulling you in. The wine was great, with a silky texture, delicate tanins and this general Cyril Fhal touch of delicate richness that just takes the palate. It’s rich, it’s definitely Roussillon style, but never vulgar or too agressive. A lingering finish, the wine is at 13,5% but there is a brilliant acidity that keeps it fresh, nothing too heavy. I do recommend eating with it nonetheless, I tried a pairing with pasta with a veggie ragu, it worked out very nicely. The wine held the opening well, with only a slight hint of mouse 24 hours after.
This wine is a great way to discover Cyril Fhal’s wines without having to wait too much. Indeed, his other wines from the domaine are way more complex and deep, and often need at least 5 to 6 years in a cellar to fully be understood at their best. The Jeunes Vignes (Grenache) tends to be more approachable in the early years, whilst the Vieilles Vignes and Ubac (Carignan) are absolutely to wait and are really worth it. The whites are also bangers, very rare though. Grab some if you can !
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Syrah with a little bit of Grenache, Cyril Fhal’s négoce from around Padern. One of Roussillon’s best producers in my opinion, if not the best, his wines are always very complex and rich, and I’ve rarely seen someone from the region being as demanding with his wines as Fhal.
The first nose is very southern in the style, you get the Syrah notes of violets with the definite fruity-tonka Grenache behind, with a garrigue touch to the nose. It’s already pulling you in. The wine was great, with a silky texture, delicate tanins and this general Cyril Fhal touch of delicate richness that just takes the palate. It’s rich, it’s definitely Roussillon style, but never vulgar or too agressive. A lingering finish, the wine is at 13,5% but there is a brilliant acidity that keeps it fresh, nothing too heavy. I do recommend eating with it nonetheless, I tried a pairing with pasta with a veggie ragu, it worked out very nicely. The wine held the opening well, with only a slight hint of mouse 24 hours after.
This wine is a great way to discover Cyril Fhal’s wines without having to wait too much. Indeed, his other wines from the domaine are way more complex and deep, and often need at least 5 to 6 years in a cellar to fully be understood at their best. The Jeunes Vignes (Grenache) tends to be more approachable in the early years, whilst the Vieilles Vignes and Ubac (Carignan) are absolutely to wait and are really worth it. The whites are also bangers, very rare though. Grab some if you can !
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