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Élan-Bise Syrah 2016

Vin de France

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  • Double Gold, China Wine & Spirits Best Value Awards, 2019

If you thought the finest Syrah came from the Rhône, try our Elan-Bise. It’s labelled vin de France, but the grapes are all from top Minervois areas. Meticulous winemaking and barrel ageing – a Gold winner dense with black fruit and herbal spice.

If you thought the finest Syrah came from the Rhône, try our Elan-Bise. It’s labelled vin de France, but the grapes are all from top Minervois areas. Meticulous winemaking and barrel ageing – a Gold winner dense with black fruit and herbal spice.

Beyond the Label

Tasting notes

Velvety, ripe black fruit, rosemary and thyme hints, liquorice. Long

Aroma

Ripe blackberry, cassis, wild herbs, liquorice, spice

Allergy information

Contains sulphites

Élan-Bise Syrah 2016

More information

  • 14.0% ABV
  • 10.5 Units
  • 750.00 ml
  • 31 December, 2020

This humble ‘vin de France’ is a sumptuous surprise. It has no fancy appellation, but taste it and you’d think it was top flight Rhône. It was spotted by Le Chai’s Mark Hoddy and Jean-Marc Sauboua when they were tasting a line-up of Syrahs for their much-loved Garage Red. This vat from their good friend, grower and winemaker Jeff Carrel was, they decided, simply too gorgeous to be blended at all. Instead, they squirrelled it away in top French oak barrels for 18 months so it rounded out and gained all those layers of extra complexity. It perfectly fitted Tony Laithwaite’s challenge to make him the finest Languedoc red, no holes barred. Open early and decant, so it reveals all its flavour. Perfect with roast red meats or a rich casserole.

"Sumptuous Syrah – simple vin de France but with Grand Cru pretensions. A must try" Mark Hoddy
Chai winemaker
Map showing Vin de France
Tasting note information