2024 Domaine Louis Cheze Syrahvissante Collines Rhodaniennes 750 ml

The name Syrahvissante is a cheeky French play on words: Ravissante means “ravishing,” so the wine name literally means “ravishing Syrah.” It’s a delightfully apt name for this bottle, which comes from a Northern Rhône winery with nearly 50 years of history.

Domaine Louis Cheze was founded in 1978 by Louis Cheze. It’s located on a hilltop on the Rhône’s Right Bank, just about 60 kilometers south of Lyon. It was a humble venture at the beginning: just one hectare of vines in Saint Joseph, plus some leased vines. Today the domaine comprises 30 hectares in some of the Rhône’s most celebrated appellations, including Condrieu and Saint-Joseph. 

The Collines Rhodaniennes region stretches from Lyon in the north of the area to Montélimar in the south. Montélimar is generally recognized as the boundary between the Southern Rhône, where the wines are dominated by Grenache-based blends born of the strong sunshine, and the Northern Rhône, the spiritual home of the Syrah grape. 

Cheze knows a bit about Syrah, as they make wine in the most prestigious appellations in the Northern Rhône, including Cornas and Côte-Rôtie, plus a series of delicious wines from Saint-Joseph. The Syrahvissante is a different animal, though. Sourced from all over the Rhodanian area, it’s 100% Syrah, grown on vines five to eight years old. Like some of the great wines of the Northern Rhône, these vines grow out of poor granite soils. 

But unlike the collectibles of the region, this wine is meant for early (and often) drinking. It’s phenomenal with duck confit and barbecue, and a straight-up delight with strong cheeses. It’s the kind of bottle you’ll find the French drinking at their local bistro, an unfussy yet high-quality bottle designed, and priced, to drink for maximum pleasure and with minimal pomp.