2022 Berry Bros. & Rudd Reserve Red by Collovray & Terrier
About this WINE
J L Terrier & C Collovray
Jean-Luc Terrier and Christian Collvray were recently hailed as Burgundy's Winemakers of the Year by the renowned Gault-Millau guide and are better known for their exemplary White Burgundies from Domaine Des Deux Roches. In recent years, however, this quality-conscious duo have been producing an outstanding range of wines from 30-year-old vines on slopes 500 metres above sea level south of Limoux in the Languedoc region.
The combination of quality, varietal definition and value persuaded us to take the important step of working with them to produce three of our House wines.
Pays d’Oc IGP
Nestled in the sun-drenched Languedoc-Roussillon region of southern France, Pays d’Oc IGP is synonymous with quality, diversity, and innovation. Established in 1987, this Indication Géographique Protégée (IGP) represents a dynamic category of wines crafted from a vast array of grape varieties, offering an excellent balance between tradition and modern winemaking.
Stretching from the Mediterranean coastline to the foothills of the Cévennes, Pays d’Oc IGP benefits from a warm, dry climate tempered by cooling sea breezes and varied soils, ranging from limestone and clay to schist and gravel. These conditions allow for optimal grape ripening, resulting in expressive, fruit-forward wines with freshness and elegance.
Unlike the strict regulations of AOC wines, Pays d’Oc IGP winemakers enjoy greater creative freedom, cultivating Indigenous and international grape varieties. Classic French varieties such as Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Merlot, Syrah, and Grenache flourish alongside Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, and even Malbec, reflecting the adaptability of this region.
The diversity of terroirs and grape varieties translates into an impressive spectrum of styles, from crisp, aromatic whites and lively, fruit-laden rosés to smooth, supple reds. Winemakers here embrace both time-honoured techniques and modern approaches, resulting in wines that are approachable yet complex and offer excellent value for their quality.
Syrah & Merlot
The Syrah & Merlot wine blend combines the unique characteristics of both grapes to create a harmonious and balanced wine.
Syrah is a bold and robust grape variety known for its deep colour, rich flavours, and strong tannins. It typically offers intense aromas of dark fruits such as blackberry, blueberry, and plum, along with notes of pepper, spices, and sometimes a touch of smokiness. The wines are often full-bodied, with a firm structure and a long, persistent finish.
Merlot, on the other hand, is generally considered a softer and more approachable grape variety. It produces wines that are medium to full-bodied with velvety textures. Merlot is known for its juicy flavours of ripe red fruits like cherry and raspberry and hints of chocolate, herbs, and sometimes floral notes. It tends to have milder tannins compared to Syrah.
When blended, Syrah and Merlot can complement each other's strengths and create a more complex and well-rounded wine. The softness, fruitiness, and elegance of Merlot can balance Syrah's structure, intensity, and spiciness. The result is often a wine with a deep, concentrated colour, a rich bouquet of fruits and spices, a medium to full body, and a smooth, velvety texture.
The proportions of Syrah and Merlot in the blend can vary depending on the winemaker's preference and the desired style of the wine. In some cases, Syrah may dominate the blend, adding power and intensity, while Merlot contributes smoothness and approachability. In other blends, the proportions may be more equal, aiming for both varieties' balanced and harmonious expression.
When is a wine ready to drink?
We provide drinking windows for all our wines. Alongside the drinking windows there is a bottle icon and a maturity stage. Bear in mind that the best time to drink a wine does also depend on your taste.
Not ready
These wines are very young. Whilst they're likely to have lots of intense flavours, their acidity or tannins may make them feel austere. Although it isn't "wrong" to drink these wines now, you are likely to miss out on a lot of complexity by not waiting for them to mature.
Ready - youthful
These wines are likely to have plenty of fruit flavours still and, for red wines, the tannins may well be quite noticeable. For those who prefer younger, fruitier wines, or if serving alongside a robust meal, these will be very enjoyable. If you choose to hold onto these wines, the fruit flavours will evolve into more savoury complexity.
Ready - at best
These wines are likely to have a beautiful balance of fruit, spice and savoury flavours. The acidity and tannins will have softened somewhat, and the wines will show plenty of complexity. For many, this is seen as the ideal time to drink and enjoy these wines. If you choose to hold onto these wines, they will become more savoury but not necessarily more complex.
Ready - mature
These wines are likely to have plenty of complexity, but the fruit flavours will have been almost completely replaced by savoury and spice notes. These wines may have a beautiful texture at this stage of maturity. There is lots to enjoy when drinking wines at this stage. Most of these wines will hold in this window for a few years, though at the very end of this drinking window, wines start to lose complexity and decline.
Buying options
Add to wishlist
Description
Cellar Plan members can enjoy a 10% saving on this wine, with the discount automatically applied at checkout.
Our 2022 Reserve Red has a glorious nose of deep, dark fruit surrounded by macerated red berries and a lift of sweet violets. The palate has a dark, layered feel of crunching juicy blackberries about it. The Merlot adds a plummy texture but the Syrah this year adds a superb granitic lift and rewarding length. A small addition of Pinot Noir makes this an exceptionally elegant regional wine.
Catriona Felstead MW, Senior Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd
wine at a glance
Delivery and quality guarantee