Château La Borie - Côtes du Rhône Villages Suze-La-Rousse Syrah 2023

Decanter

About the wine:

Côtes du Rhône-Villages red wines + village name have won only three places in our Best in Show selection over the years, and this is the second time Suze-La-Rousse has been included. (Plan de Dieu was third.) Does this indicate a terroir distinction that could eventually earn Suze-la-Rousse cru status, as seven of its peers have done over the past half-century? Let's find out. What is certain is that this Syrah varietal wine (with just a touch of Grenache) is an exceptional find: an intense reddish-black color, it gives off beautifully lifted aromas, reminiscent of sizzling bacon, that wouldn't go amiss after a hot summer in Cornas. The additional aromatic note of orange blossom and bark, however, suggests southern origins. It's grandiose on the palate: full and exuberant, sumptuous and rich, with notes of sweet, tender fruit to savor - most certainly a wine of the south. And don't miss those orange flavors that spill over the palate with delight.

James Suckling