Domaine Saint Benoît Syrah 2007

Description
This rich red is a fabulous scoop - a question of being in the right place at the right time. The parcel of 2007 was destined for the States, but a last minute cancellation meant it was up for grabs just as our buyer, Abi, came to visit. The secret is that although the wine is only labelled a humble vin de pays, the grapes were grown within the Minervois's very best cru, La Livinière. As Anthony Rose of The Independent wrote "La Livinière has become one of the top appellations in the south of France and deservedly so."

In addition and just to add to all the richness and power of this red, all its grapes were taken from vines that are at least 65 years old; some yield as little as 15 hectolitres per hectare (most Cru Classé claret average around 45 hectolitres per hectare).

Winemaker at this top Minervois estate is Benoit Blancheton who has had considerable experience in the grand châteaux of Bordeaux, as well as making 92-Point wines at Châteauneuf-du-Pape's famous Clos de l'Oratoire. The wine is a tremendously rich and powerful combination of 85% dark, brooding Syrah with a 15% splash of Merlot to fill out the wine with creamy plum flavour. Six months in French and American oak barriques has given the wine a rich layer of toasty oak complexity.

Sunday Times Wine Club Vintage Festival 2008, United Kingdom

Session 3 at the Vintage Festival April 2008 2008, United Kingdom

Domaine Saint Benoît Syrah 2007 is available in the following cases: