Made from grapes almost entirely destemmed, this wine is sourced from young Syrah vines and aged in demi-muid barrels. The result is a fresh Syrah with immediate appeal.

• 

  Deborah Adeyanju

  The nose overflows with licorice and dark fruit, with meat and truffles. Full bodied on the palate with violets, blueberries, and other dark fruit flavors. Substantial, with supple tannins and great concentration contributing to the dense texture. Likely to be ready in 2016–2017.

  Food pairing: Roast pork, wild boar, sausage, hearty meat dishes

Gold medal winner in the 2013 Sommelier Wine Awards. Sourced from 25-year-old Syrah vines on the domaine’s best hillsides, Cuvée du Papy is aged on lees for twice as long as the domaine’s regular Saint-Joseph, in 1/3 new-oak demi-muids. There is no fining at the end, just a light filtration to clear deposits. The result is a fragrant, plush and powerful wine.

• 

  Cheryl Bringuez

  Wonderful, with lots of character. An old-world Syrah that’s a good choice for New World Syrah lovers who want to explore. Black pepper, blackberry, and a hint of campfire on the nose. Gobs of awesome berry fruit laced with black pepper on the palate—a theme that continues through to the smooth, delicious finish.

  Food pairing: Steak Kebobs

Montez’s Condrieus are rich, ripe wines, made in a much bolder style than our other Condrieus. Les Grandes Chaillées is a plump wine that combines Viognier grapes from three areas: Chavanay for its apricot taste; Saint-Michel-sur-Rhône for minerality; and Vérin for richness.

• 

  Deborah Adeyanju

  Savory scents characterize the nose, with suggestions of vegetation and the aroma of chalk. Delicate and light-bodied, but the generous, youthful palate is virtually bursting with stone fruit flavors nevertheless. The finish is elegant, but so concentrated that the wine seems sweeter than it actually is.

  Food pairing: spicy Asian foods; apricot and peach tarts

Montez’ Condrieus are rich, ripe wines, made in a much bolder style than our other Condrieus. Chanson is a blend of grapes from Viognier vines aged 10-30 years in the Chanson lieu-dit, producing a ripe but balanced wine that is fruitier than the usual Condrieu — reminiscent of the Sauternes wines from Bordeaux.

• 

  Cheryl Bringuez

  Vibrant with plenty of delicious apricot, pear, and Meyer lemon scents up front. The nose is inviting, the palate even more seductive, with opulent stone fruit and a balancing citrus bite.

  Food pairing: Grilled prawns

Silver medal winner, Sommelier Wine Awards, 2014. Made from a blend of Syrah and 8-10% Viognier, Montez’s Côte Rôtie Fortis is fermented in a sandwich — Syrah first, then Viognier, then more Syrah on top — thus preventing over-oxidization of the Viognier grapes and releasing a fruitier, less dry feel than other Côte-Rôties.

• 

  Deborah Adeyanju

  The complex nose offers spicy tapenade, brine, minerals, earth, and coffee grounds along with pungent herbal notes, particularly juniper. Full bodied. The palate suggests dark fruits, herbs, roasted meat, coffee grounds, black olives, earth, and tapenade plus something smoky. The long, lingering finish builds in fruity intensity over time. An overlying thin vein of minerality and ample tannins contribute to remarkable balance. Wow! A dramatic, sexy wine that cries out for grilled steak or barbecued meat.

  Food pairing: Grilled steak or barbecued meat