Famous grape variety from Côte-Rôtie and Hermitage, the Syrah grape is vinified as a single grape in the North of the appellation. In the Southern Rhône Valley, it is mostly blended to produce fine and complex wines. Jean-Marc Autran, looking for something new, has decided to vinify his Syrah alone. VINEYARD Although grown all over the world, Syrah is a real challenge. Indeed, this emblematic grape variety is sensitive to disease, fears drought and cannot with stand the famous Mistral wind of the Rhone Valley. It is therefore its rarity that destines it to produce the greatest wines. Planted on the slope sof Cheval Long on sandy-clay soils, Syrah benefit froman ideal terroir.The sandy soil is perfectly suited to early-ripening grape varieties such as Syrah because it is warm, aerated and retains little water. Plant in go nhillsidesalsoallowsusto benefit from the cool mornings in summer.This coolness favors the good maturity of the grapes by slowing it down and thus avoiding over-ripening. Finally, the presence of clay and silt in the soil,although limited, contributes to fight against the summer drought. VINIFICATION Like all the other grape varieties at Piaugier, Syrah is harvvested by hand. Once in the cellar, it is destemmed and then transferred to concrete tank:s where it will macerate for a period of approximately three weeks. Then it will be presseed and moved to oak barrels. The particularity of this wine is that it is aged in new demimuids (600-liter barrels), for three winters. First mark by wood, it will progressively balarnce throughout the maturing. Indeed, longer it stays in the barrels, the more the tannins wiIl be integrated to the wine.
