Alain Graillot Syrah Morocco Syrocco 2022

Syrocco is a Moroccan Syrah made at Domaine des Ouled Thaleb with the consultancy of the Graillot family of Crozes-Hermitage.

The wine comes from the Zenata region on Morocco's Atlantic side, in the lee of the Middle Atlas, where the towns of Rommani and Benslimane sit around 500 metres above sea level between the ocean and the mountains. Fresh sea breezes and that altitude keep the climate relatively cool, and a mix of red and black clay over limestone and ancient ocean-bed remnants suits Syrah well. Alain Graillot found the site while cycling in Morocco, which is what the tandem and palm tree on the label refer to, and a conversation with the domaine's then-oenologist Jacques Poulaine convinced him of the potential. The Syrah vines average 25 years of age. Vineyard work overseen by Stéphane Mariot is meticulous, with goblet pruning, hand-weeding and hand-ploughing and no herbicide or fungicide. The fruit is fully destemmed and ferments in closed concrete vats, then matures for 15 months, first in tank and then in large Burgundian oak casks.

Scented and juicy, it is drinking now and will hold for six or seven years; serve at 16-17°C with grilled lamb, tagine or roast eggplant.

*Every effort is made to ensure the current vintage is accurate; however, variations can occur. If you are after a specific vintage, please contact us prior to ordering.