Alain Graillot

La Guiraude

2020
No. Rhône Valley
France
Say It
A-LEN Gray-O La Gee-ROAD
Varietal
Syrah
$70
Flavors
Black Cherry Black Cherry
Grilled Meat Grilled Meat
Spice Box Spice Box
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Palate Character

Balance & Finesse 2 Rich & Full 2 Light & Bright 2 Smooth & Silky 2 Round & Fleshy 2 Tone & Backbone 1 Powerful & Extracted 2 Bright & Crisp 2
Tone & Backbone
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Tasting Notes
Medium-plus in body with pronounced tannins and acidity. There are complex aromas of black cherry, blackberry, and red cherry fruit, followed by flavors of tobacco, garrigue, black olives, grilled meat, and spice box that lingers in the long, complex finish.
COLOR
Red/Violet Tinge
BODY
TANNIN
ACIDITY
SWEET
ALCOH.
13%
GRAPE(S)
Syrah
Learn More
Why this wine made the cut…
It has the trifecta: delicious, cerebral, and complete.
Crozes-Hermitage, Northern Rhône Valley
GRAPE VARIETAL(S)
Syrah
100% See-RA
Syrah is widely planted throughout the world, but that was not so until the late twentieth century when Syrah was principally grown in the Rhone Valley and, as Shiraz, in Australia. Stylistically, the Palate Character of Syrah can vary depending on ripeness from a rich Round & Fleshy, Tone & Backbone, to a Powerful & Extracted. The flavors and aromas can also vary with a dark, sometimes sweet, fruit character, varying amount of spice, floral, and earth, and smoke, and meaty aromas and flavors.
Country / State
France
Region
No. Rhône Valley
Producer
Alain Graillot
Winemaker(s)
Alain Graillot
Vintage
2020

Alain Graillot

Crozes-Hermitage, Northern Rhône Valley


Alain Graillot was founded in 1985 in Crozes-Hermitage and quickly became some of the most sought-after Northern Rhône syrahs, especially for La Guiraude, which is made in tiny quantities in only the best years. 


The estate consists of fifty acres of organically farmed vineyards located on well-drained soil in between the Rhône and Isère rivers. M. Graillot works the vineyard by hand, does whole-cluster fermentation, and ages the wines in three-year-old barrels that he buys from some of Burgundy’s best domaines. 

His wines have exotic aromatics and a firm grip—their structure is buttressed by a complex fruit and mineral character with a persistent finish.