2021 Sylvain Bock Fruit Jazz

WINEMAKER: Sylvain Bock
REGION: Ardèche, FR
VARIETAL: Grenache, Syrah
VITICULTURE: Organic

The difficult season in 2021 gave raise to a very appealing wine from Sylvain which he had only released twice before. In 2021 he combined part of his Grenache harvest with his Syrah to create a fruity wine (hence the name) that is very easy to drink (as we have just experienced) but also very appealing at the same time.

The Grenache which comprises 60% of the wine was picked from vines growing in limestone and volcanic soils whereas the Syrah was all from the limestone soils. The Grenache underwent carbonic maceration for 7 days as whole bunches and the Syrah for 10 days. They were then pressed separately and on completion of the fermentation Sylvain decided to blend them. The resultant wine was then aged in fibreglass tanks for approximately 9 months before being bottled. Fruit Jazz is light, with very soft tannins, yet quite full of flavour – just how we like red wines to be. It is a pleasant 12.5% alcohol.

Sylvain grew up in the Northern Rhone and worked for Ardeche legend Gérald Oustric from Domaine du Mazel from who he now leases one of his vineyards. Sylvain produced his first vintage in 2010. The vineyards see both basalt and limestone present. The limestone from ancient seas and the basalt from the volcanic activity that was prevalent in past eras here. Many of the vineyards are strewn with limestone rocks as you can see in the photo below, but as you move north through the valley the basalt becomes more prevalent.