About this WINE
Domaine Eric & Joel Durand
The Durand brothers, Eric and Joël, joined forces in 1996 to devote the polycultural family business to the cultivation of grapes. The Domaine is based in Châteaubourg in the Ardèche and covers twenty hectares, with Syrah, Marsanne and Roussanne farmed over the appellations of Cornas, St Peray and St Joseph in addition to the IGP des Collines Rhodanienes.
Their outstanding Viognier is farmed at an altitude of 450 metres, its south-facing granitic vineyards located above the village of Mauves. With cold stabilisation and only 20% of the must fermented in This outstanding Viognier is farmed at an altitude of 450 metres, its south-facing granitic vineyards located above the village of Mauves.
The St Joseph wine is sourced on the granitic slopes in the south of the appellation, close to Cornas and is matured for eighth months, mainly in large vats (6000 litres) but with a small percentage nurtured in cement tank.
Syrah/Shiraz
A noble black grape variety grown particularly in the Northern Rhône where it produces the great red wines of Hermitage, Cote Rôtie and Cornas, and in Australia where it produces wines of startling depth and intensity. Reasonably low yields are a crucial factor for quality as is picking at optimum ripeness. Its heartland, Hermitage and Côte Rôtie, consists of 270 hectares of steeply terraced vineyards producing wines that brim with pepper, spices, tar and black treacle when young. After 5-10 years they become smooth and velvety with pronounced fruit characteristics of damsons, raspberries, blackcurrants and loganberries.
It is now grown extensively in the Southern Rhône where it is blended with Grenache and Mourvèdre to produce the great red wines of Châteauneuf du Pape and Gigondas amongst others. Its spiritual home in Australia is the Barossa Valley, where there are plantings dating as far back as 1860. Australian Shiraz tends to be sweeter than its Northern Rhône counterpart and the best examples are redolent of new leather, dark chocolate, liquorice, and prunes and display a blackcurrant lusciousness.
South African producers such as Eben Sadie are now producing world- class Shiraz wines that represent astonishing value for money.
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Description
The Durand late-harvest philosophy was well suited to 2013 it seems. The granitic slopes behind the village include six hectares of Durand vines, the source of this powerful wine, its notes of dark chocolate and cerise complemented by a seam of elegant acidity and persuasive but not overwhelming tannins.
Simon Field MW - Rhône Buyer
Relatively new to our list, Domaine Durand is based just south of Mauves in the village of Châteaubourg, their ancient cellar located virtually underneath the ruins of the eponymous castle. The loquacious Joël advises that 2013 was complicated, but ultimately successful, with vines that have reached and passed their 25th year, that is to say the significant majority of those under his ownership, faring especially well. Deeper and richer than the Les Coteaux, the 2013 Saint Joseph Cuvee Lautaret has similar notes of olive tapenade, cassis, black raspberry and gamey meat. Medium to full-bodied, ripe and textured, with juicy acidity, it too should shine for 5-7 years.
Jeb Dunnuck - Wine Advocate Issue#216 Dec 2014
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