[Coup de cœur] Gayda – Sphère Syrah 2022 by Domaine Gayda
Domaine Gayda is above all the story of Tim Ford and Anthony Record, who decided to join forces with Vincent Chansault in 2004. The latter produces very fine, sincere wines using grapes from different terroirs. This is where the range comes into its own, with a multitude of soils ranging from schist to limestone, from gneiss to sandstone.
Impossible not to mention, the estate has built its reputation on its Chemin de Moscou cuvée, with its assertive identity and distinctive bottle. But the rest of the wines are well worth the detour, and include some nuggets, sometimes simpler, but oh so precisely made. Such is the case with this Syrah 2022, part of a third-party range called Gayda-Sphère, which gives pride of place to varietal wines. That’s the whole point. Express their complexity by being able to blend grapes from different origins, each bringing its own typicity. Most of the Syrahs here (80%) come from La Livinière and are complemented by those from Roussillon. Limestone on one side and schist on the other, giving this grape variety a long, precise structure. From the very first plunge into the glass, we’re delighted by a typical but not exuberant fruitiness, highlighting just-ripe black fruits. Blackcurrant dominates, before giving way to blueberry and a hint of violet. The material then seduces with its clean, straight, framed structure. The wine remains fleshy yet dynamic, with lively tannins. Harmonious and well-balanced, the wine is juicy and lingers on beautiful spicy notes.
