Château De La Gardine, Brunel de la Gardine Hermitage, 2021

From the storied granite slopes of Hermitage comes this pure Syrah, an expression of power tempered by poise. The 2021 Brunel de la Gardine carries the hallmarks of the appellation: deep, dark fruit, graphite minerality, and that unmistakable Hermitage muscle, all delivered with a supple, modern finesse. It’s a serious wine built to age gracefully, yet already offers great pleasure alongside grilled lamb or a rich winter stew.

Château De La Gardine is best known for its Châteauneuf-du-Pape, but the Brunel family’s northern Rhône ventures show equal ambition and class. The bottle itself is a conversation starter, its distinctive shape modelled on an antique, mouth-blown bottle unearthed by Gaston Brunel in the 1960s.