Chateau De Campuget 1753 Syrah 2015 – The Château de Campuget ‘1753’ Syrah is a classy expression of this red wine grape variety, made without any contact with oak in order to maintain the purity of the Syrah fruit. Aged in vats for up to 7 months prior to bottling the 1753 displays a classic Syrah nose with a very intense fruit-driven character. On the palate the wine shows smoky, liquorice notes and a hint of dark chocolate through to a lovely smooth and chunky but velvety texture. No oak ageing but bags of complexity.

Hirotake Ooka began his career with Jean Louis Grippat managing his vines which were eventually acquired by Guigal. He also worked weekends with Cornas legend, Thierry Allemand, eventually worked with him exclusively. In the early 2000s, he acquired some of his own vines and a winery in the town of St. Peray. He produced his first vintage in 2001. His winemaking style is unconventional, preferring to work with vines that undisturbed. Not even organic treatments. His wines are also unfined, unfiltered and sulfur is never added. The Le Canon is blend of Syrah and Grenache from vines with an average age of 30 years. He allows some carbonic maceration at the beginning of fermentation and then finishes with daily punch downs. The wine is aged 24 months in tank and then bottled. The wine does carry some carbon dioxide when it is bottled which preserves freshness. Give it a nice decant before serving and you will be well rewarded with a wine of vast complexity and flavors. (Natural wine, no sulfur added)