Domaine du Tunnel - Saint-Péray Roussanne 2024

Intense aromas of fresh mango and mango sorbet. Very concentrated, yet without excessive richness or heaviness—just powerful bursts of lingering mango and pear flavors. The acidity is low, but the wine is fresh and lively. It’s hard to gauge its aging potential; I’d drink it young. With such concentration and vibrancy, it can only be Domaine du Tunnel. Natural yeasts, aged in used barrels.

Since taking over in 1994, Stéphane Robert—who does not come from a winemaking background—has established himself as a leading figure in the world of northern wines. He built his vineyard from the ground up; today it spans 11 hectares of highly fragmented plots, planted with Cornas, Saint-Joseph, Saint-Péray, and Condrieu vines. These vineyards run alongside an old railroad track and a 160-meter tunnel—still visible today—which gives the estate its name and in which a new winemaking facility and aging cellar were built in 2013.

Stéphane Robert runs his estate with great skill and crafts modern, precise wines that have established themselves as benchmarks within the Saint-Péray and Cornas appellations. These wines breathe new life into the style—sometimes rustic and sun-kissed—of these two small appellations. Stéphane brings touches of refinement to his deep, opaque Syrahs, achieved through precise grape ripeness, extraction, and aging. The wines also age very well.

Aromas of anise and fennel with spicy notes of pear. Rich and textured on the palate with notes of honey and peach. Powerful yet elegant. Beautiful balance and depth.