Place: Cotes-du-Rhone Villages — Rhone Valley, France

Variety: Syrah

Farming: Sustainable

Les Vignerons d’Estézargues is a co-operative cellar in the small town of Estézargues which is located near Avignon. Starting in 1995 the ten different growers in this co-op began to vinify their wine separately and make single cuvees from their best plots. Unusual for a co-op, putting them on the map as serious winemakers.

Their Cotes-du-Rhone comes from sandy, chalky soils, rather than the usual heavy clay, and is, consequently, fresher and lighter than its counterparts. It’s gamey, herbaceous and punctuated by ripe purple fruit.