Yves Cuilleron a Chavanay
Les Vignes d'à Côté Syrah
Northern Rhône, Rhône, France
It’s been a few years since I opened one of these, a perennial ‘cellar defender’ to open on a whim when duty calls. Sadly, this is my last – but my word, I must buy more! This was absolutely sensational, a wine that punches well above its weight and provides the sort of value only a select few wines in the northern Rhône can muster up.
A doppelgänger for rock-solid Cornas, and inky purple in colour, the nose is effusive with dark cherry, blackcurrant, kirsch, smoked bacon, iron and sweet balsamic – all of it fresh, and no trace of alcohol at 13.5% from a hot vintage. The palate is sappy, vibrant, detailed and harmonious with quite good concentration and a sneaky long finish.
I would love to see this thrown into a blind tasting with wines four times its price. At six years of age, this is on fabulous form now and may improve with further time in the cellar.
93 points – but 100 for value!
It’s been a few years since I opened one of these, a perennial ‘cellar defender’ to open on a whim when duty calls. Sadly, this is my last – but my word, I must buy more! This was absolutely sensational, a wine that punches well above its weight and provides the sort of value only a select few wines in the northern Rhône can muster up.
A doppelgänger for rock-solid Cornas, and inky purple in colour, the nose is effusive with dark cherry, blackcurrant, kirsch, smoked bacon, iron and sweet balsamic – all of it fresh, and no trace of alcohol at 13.5% from a hot vintage. The palate is sappy, vibrant, detailed and harmonious with quite good concentration and a sneaky long finish.
I would love to see this thrown into a blind tasting with wines four times its price. At six years of age, this is on fabulous form now and may improve with further time in the cellar.
93 points – but 100 for value!
Once again an absolute winner of a wine, this bottom-line Syrah from Yves Cuilleron hits all the right notes and represents terrific value at around £13/btl.
I’ve enjoyed this wine before, but Matt Walls of Decanter, whose column on sub-£20 Rhône wines I recently read, describes its predominant flavours quite accurately as ‘blood, blackberry, blood orange; tangy, balsamic’. I’d add to this a hint of white chocolate, cranberry and Worcestershire sauce. This wine lacks the intensity of fruit that makes much of the northern Rhône so special, but it’s nonetheless a terrific bottling that is a great bastion both for Yves Cuilleron and the Collines Rhodaniennes.
Once again an absolute winner of a wine, this bottom-line Syrah from Yves Cuilleron hits all the right notes and represents terrific value at around £13/btl.
I’ve enjoyed this wine before, but Matt Walls of Decanter, whose column on sub-£20 Rhône wines I recently read, describes its predominant flavours quite accurately as ‘blood, blackberry, blood orange; tangy, balsamic’. I’d add to this a hint of white chocolate, cranberry and Worcestershire sauce. This wine lacks the intensity of fruit that makes much of the northern Rhône so special, but it’s nonetheless a terrific bottling that is a great bastion both for Yves Cuilleron and the Collines Rhodaniennes.
So Syrah-y that I could drink it all day. Ripe fruit, savory, peppery, all together. Great acidity, well built.
So Syrah-y that I could drink it all day. Ripe fruit, savory, peppery, all together. Great acidity, well built.
7 people found it helpfulAug 19th, 2014
My man is finally backing off the oak. Very very good.
My man is finally backing off the oak. Very very good.
4 people found it helpfulNov 2nd, 2014
Rich and complex black and blue fruit, intense savory notes, pepper
Rich and complex black and blue fruit, intense savory notes, pepper
1 person found it helpfulJul 21st, 2020
Owner TomeVinos wine shops, WSET Level 3, Blogger www.spanishwinesandmore.com, blog.tomevinos.com
Super for the price. One of the best #Syrah I’ve tasted all year and I’ve tasted a few. #deal #rhone
Super for the price. One of the best #Syrah I’ve tasted all year and I’ve tasted a few. #deal #rhone
1 person found it helpfulApr 30th, 2020
Entry level Cuilleron. An absolute steal. Easy to drink, but enough there to think about.
Entry level Cuilleron. An absolute steal. Easy to drink, but enough there to think about.
1 person found it helpfulFeb 11th, 2020
Distinctly syrah. Pretty much distinctly northern Rhone syrah. Super solid QPR. Had the '15 & the '16. I preferred '16 but everyone else preferred '15.
Distinctly syrah. Pretty much distinctly northern Rhone syrah. Super solid QPR. Had the '15 & the '16. I preferred '16 but everyone else preferred '15.
1 person found it helpfulNov 17th, 2017
Very bright and fresh red fruits. Not overly complex but delicious.
Very bright and fresh red fruits. Not overly complex but delicious.
1 person found it helpfulNov 17th, 2017