Andrew Guard

2020 La Syrah de la Pinède, Fond Cyprès

This Syrah has a deep vibrant opaque ruby/purple color, and an attractive, lifted nose of ripe cassis fruit, a touch of griottes, and a gentle hint of pepper and garrigue. Sweet, fresh and expansive, with attractive lushness and opulence, this is a stunning, pure, multi-layered wine to enjoy now but it will cellar well too.

In 1998, Laetitia Ourliac and Rodolphe Gianesini found a somewhat forgotten vineyard of 18 acres in Escales near Lézignan in the appellation of Corbières.

For 6 years they undertook winemaking training and began the slow work required to develop their land in the ancient manner, by creating terraces and planting vines: Carignan, Syrah and Grenache for red wine and Grenache Blanc, Roussanne and Viognier for white - Fond Cyprès was born in 2004.

Since then they have both been working incredibly hard to find the identity of their vineyards: knowing each plot, each variety and developing a winemaking style that they believe in.

In truth it has all come together in extraordinarily successful style. These are today, in a short space of time, some of the best wines in the Languedoc.