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

Côtes du Rhône-Villages red wines (followed by the village name) have earned only three spots over the years in our Best in Show selection, and this is the second time Suze-La-Rousse has made the list. (Plan de Dieu was the third.) Does this point to a distinctive terroir that could eventually allow Suze-La-Rousse to attain cru status, as seven of its peers have done over the past half-century? Let’s see. What is certain is that this Syrah-based wine (with just a touch of Grenache) is an exceptional find: with an intense black-red color, it exudes beautifully spicy aromas, reminiscent of sizzling bacon, which wouldn’t be out of place after a hot summer in Cornas. The additional aromatic notes of orange blossom and citrus peel, however, suggest southern origins. It’s magnificent on the palate: full-bodied and exuberant, sumptuous and rich, with notes of sweet, tender fruit to savor—undoubtedly a southern wine. Don’t miss the orange aromas that delightfully unfold on the palate either.