2022

Paul and Isla Gordon are a dynamic wine couple based in the Faugéres appellation in the South of France. Paul is an Australian vigneron who honed his winemaking skills in the vineyards of New Zealand. Isla, brings her knowledge and commitment to quality grape growing which was learned during several years of working with some of the best viticulturists in New Zealand. In Faugères the soils are ancient, they are squeezed between the Pyrenees and the Massif central and are 350 million years old. The vineyards are dominated by schist soils perforated with limestone with a small percentage of sandstone as well as clay. Domaine la Sarabande is a relatively modest Domaine with 9.5 Ha spread over 4 vineyard sites.

Tasting note: This is a complex blend of three different Syrah vineyards and a single plot of Mourvédre. The grapes are all organically grown and the hand picked when we believe the flavours and acidity is in equilibrium. Fermentation was done in small one tonne open fermenters. Here we see a wine with darker fruits at the core and more structural tannin, savouriness and dried herb spices.

Perhaps more Provence than Southern Rhone in style! A robust wine but with some lovely acidity that holds the abundant fruit and crunchy tannins in check.