Domaine du Tunnel Saint-Péray Roussanne 2021
Saint-Péray AOC
This creamy apricot, floral and herb-scented white is from Stéphane Robert, whose wines stand out for their pure fruit intensity. It’s from Saint-Péray – a little-known northern Rhône appellation, south of Cornas, that produces real-gem whites.
The Wine
In 1994, at just 24, Stéphane Robert began to build his domaine, from nothing! He started by leasing vines, then gradually bought up a few parcels, so that now he has 11 hectares in Saint-Péray, Saint-Joseph, Cornas, Condrieu and also Côtes du Rhône. He champions Syrah for his reds, Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier for whites. Old vines and granite soils are all important to him and in 2014 he built a new winery (in an old steam train tunnel, hence the domaine's name!) to take quality higher. This is his pure Roussanne Saint-Péray (he also does a Marsanne), fermented and aged in vat, with no oak. Rounded, peachy, floral and herbal fruit zipped by mineral citrus intensity, this is a classy, well-balanced white. Pair with creamy sauced fish.
"From Condrieu to Châteauneuf-du-Pape, this is an unmissable vintage for whites"
Matt Walls
