Syrah

The great grape of the Northern Rhône where, despite legends linking it to Persia or Syracuse, it originated. It is the principal or sole variety in all of the Northern Rhône’s great red wines and features heavily in the Southern Rhône albeit in support of Grenache. Syrah has spread across the world, especially so to the New World where the style tends to be more plush and overt than the silkier gently peppered wines of its homeland. Known as Shiraz in Australia, a name that has spread across the New World especially with regard to more commercial wines.

alternative to cote rotie

Matt Walls in Decanter – Côte-Rôtie alternatives

By on 19/05/2021

From Matt Walls, writing in Decanter, comes an article on top-quality and great-value Côte-Rôtie alternatives. As Matt puts it,  “When a grape variety is given time to ripen slowly and gradually, it develops its aromas one by one. The grape has time to listen to those aromas, to remember them all, layering them like tints in a watercolour.

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Syrah: King of the Northern Rhône

By on 29/03/2021

[caption id="attachment_33074" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Côte Rôtie vineyards are planted on very steep slopes that have to be manually harvested.(Image from Domaine Duclaux)[/caption] There is a lot of excitement around the imminent release of our Rhône 2019 EP campaign, from customers and L&S staff alike, and for good reason.

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Christmas Drinks recommendations

What we’ll be drinking for Christmas – Our Favourite Wines

By on 23/12/2019

It’s the busiest moment of the year for our team as we try to help everyone get the right wines into their glasses as well as the perfect presents into people's stockings for Christmas.

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Thanksgiving 2019 wine

Best wines for Thanksgiving

By on 25/11/2019

It may be surprising to know that most of the states of the US produce wine. But, of course, most of the American wines that hit these shores are from California. From the earliest days of Spanish settlers, through waves of various European migrants, surviving the vicissitudes of Prohibition, to the modern internationally recognised industry of today, wine has always been part of the Californian scene.

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Tuscany

In pursuit of Tuscan Treasures: a recent trip to some of our top wine producers

By on 07/06/2017

Italy has always been close to the heart of Lea & Sandeman and we are very fortunate enough to represent some superb estates across the length and breadth of this beautiful country.

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