Want to know the best under-$10-wine I’ve had in a while? It’s the 2004 Domaine la Bastide Syrah, a Vin de Pays D’Hauterive from Corbieres-based propietor Guilhem Durand. Check out the importer’s web site for more information.
This Syrah, which one local market has for only $8, is year in and year out one of the best buys in wine. But somehow the 2004 strikes me as the best I’ve tried, so bright and lively in the mouth with just enough richness. It has simple flavors but terrific purity, an honest French syrah that beats the pants off industrial shiraz.
The 2003 is still around in places, and it’s also pretty nice though riper and a little squishy. Yet it’s also real wine and well worth buying. Perhaps you’ll like this one better.
8 comments:
I found a bottle of this yesterday(the 04) at our local co-op and it was very good. A half bottle left over tonight even showed a touch more complexity on the 2nd day. Nice juicy straight forward syrah fruit without any wood flavors and good supple tannins. What more could you want for $9?
Thanks for the recco.
Best,
Marc
Well thank you. I forgot to mention that the '03 and prior year labels are different from '04. No Bastide reference, instead labelled Guilhem Durand. Good stuff, pretty real wine to my taste.
I had the 2004 at a restaurant in SE and I liked it very much. Where can I get it in Portland? FYI I paid $28 for the bottle at the restaurant.
If you want to taste this superb wine in Portland (OR not ME) try the Heathman Hotel. I am sitting in the bar enjoying the smoothness and fullness. Tell the Restaurant manager (Garrett) about it so he will keep it in his Wine Cellar. Also tell Blye the bartender how cute she is.
Thank you Heathman Hotel patron. Can you do me a favor and mention to Garrett that this wine really ought to stay on their list? And if you see Blye, well, you know what to say. Cheers.
New Season's is carrying it as of January 2007, and IIRC it's less than $9.
Yes, this one has resurfaced widely in the local market, some with the label "Domaine la Bastide" but more and more with the label "Guilhem Durand" as the '03 as previous years. I can only assume they are the same wine. Price, producer, importer, grape, etc. all the same. Just different labels, which wouldn't be the first instance in the wine world. Unless someone has more information to share...
For those in the SF area, Wine Club has it now for 6.99.
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