The $10,000 Cellar, Part One

Ah, the northern Rhône Valley, home to the world’s greatest Syrahs. Unlike many other regions, Syrah’s promise here is built on elegance as opposed to power. I’ve always loved northern Rhône Syrah and while I continue to buy them with some regularity, it is a small region with relatively few producers.

Once upon a time, Hermitage was the object of my desire. To a certain extent, I’ve broadened my horizons to include more wines from the Côte-rôtie as well as Cornas. Two reasons for this are simple: pricing for Hermitage has become pretty daunting recently and the style of many of the wines has changed.

If you’re looking for affordable elegance, it is time to move on!

Photo courtesy Megan Mallen via Flickr/CC