With the start of the New Year, we are kicking off our brand new blog series: #VinDuJour, in which we feature terrific little-known old world wines at reasonable prices, most of them sold exclusively by AP Wine Imports in the US.
Today’s pick is the 2013 Syrah “Terres de Mandrin” VDP from Jeanne Gaillard. This, along with all the other wines from Domaine Gaillard, comes from the Rhone Valley and is composed of 100% Syrah grapes.
Jeanne Gaillard, daughter of winemaker Pierre Gaillard, has been immersed in the world of wine since childhood, and her style is, in her own words, “Pretty soft and fruity; I seek the purest expression of each varietal and each appellation in which I work.”
“Terres de Mandrin” is translated as “Land of Mandrin,” Mandrin as in Louis Mandrin, who is known as the French Robin Hood. Jeanne Gaillard, along with other children brought up in the Dauphiné province, was sung ballads about Mandrin which detailed his infamous exploits.
Like the eponymous hero, the “Terres de Mandrin” is vivid and full of life, but with an edge. On the palate, it is fleshy, fresh, and fruity, with exotic shades of smoke and spice. Some ideal food pairings for this wine would be vegetable-based entrees, goats cheese, terrines, and roasted red meat.
For more details on today’s #VinDuJour, check out our website and page on Sevenfifty!
