dA Astruc Malras Syrah

A lovely, spicy Syrah from the d'Astruc winery in the Pays d'Oc region. The beautiful vineyards have the perfect soil and structure for the Syrah grape. This results in a small harvest, but those that are picked are excellent, as we smell and taste in this beautiful red wine.

The vineyards of Domaine Astruc

The winery is situated at the foot of the Pyrenees, and its vineyards comprise eighty hectares, 25 of which are planted in the Limoux appellation. This is a unique region in the Languedoc, where several climates converge, with the Mediterranean and the Oceanic being the most prominent. Chardonnay reigns supreme on the hills of the Aude Valley, but red grape varieties are also important: Syrah, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Malbec all produce surprising wines. This dA is made entirely of Syrah grapes from the Pays d'Oc region. The Syrah vineyards are situated on clay and limestone soils with gravel. The vineyards range in age from twelve to thirty years old. The harvest, partly manual and partly mechanical, takes place at night to prevent oxidation. Fermentation, including maceration, takes place under controlled temperatures and lasts approximately twenty days in total. The skins that regularly rise to the surface are pumped over daily to ensure the juice comes into good contact with the skins. After maceration, the wine is gently pressed with a pneumatic press. Before malolactic fermentation, 25 percent of the wine is placed in American oak barrels and aged for four months. It is then blended with the remaining 75 percent.

The round and ripe flavors of the dA Syrah

The glass is an intense horse with garnet hues. The nose is initially spicy and peppery, but then dark fruits like blackberry and dark cherry emerge, along with some toasted notes. The wine is round and ripe with floral flavors and good acidity in the mid-palate, along with some tobacco notes on the finish. All in all, a very enjoyable glass that is perfect for drinking on its own, but also pairs well with meat pie, game, grilled red meat, stew, or a barbecue.