Wine Region: Rhone - France

Grape: 100% Syrah.

Tasting notes: This cuvée comes from mature Syrah vines and offers a degustation very close to that of a Côte-Rôtie. It derives its name “Fleurs de Mai” ‘May Flowers’ from the May Flower peach trees that were long ago found planted on the plot. A wine of deep fragrances, those of black cherries and pepper, game and spices all wrapped around a supple texture. Ripe, fresh and persistant, it is remarkably well balanced wine produced in small, limited quantities.

About the winery: Georges Vernay is known as the "King of Condrieu" and was responsible for the growth and worldwide recognition of this small appellation during the 1950s. His estate covers 16 hectares of vineyards, 3 of which are in the Côte Rôtie appellation. The steep and uneven vineyards make mechanical labour impossible. The vines are manually propagated without the use of residual herbicide or insecticide.

Georges' daughter, Christine, returned to her roots with Paul Anselem, her Parisian husband, and has looked after the winemaking since 1997, gaining worldwide recognition for her Côte Rôtie wines.

More about Domaine Georges Vernay here...