# Cuvée Gabriel (2023)

- **Producer:** Guillaume Gilles
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** 100% Syrah
- **Region:** Rhône, France
- **Style:** Classic
- **Average price:** €55
- **When to drink:** Later
- **Serving temperature:** 16–18 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** black cherry, black plum, blackcurrant, liquorice, fennel, eucalyptus, leather, earth, mushroom, tobacco

## About this wine

Cuvée Gabriel is a red wine from Cornas in the Northern Rhône, produced by Guillaume Gilles. It is made from 100% Syrah, reflecting the traditional style of the appellation. Gilles, a protégé of Robert Michel, inherited prime vineyard parcels in the renowned Chaillot lieu-dit, where vines average 40 years old. The estate practices organic viticulture, with all vineyard work done by hand. Winemaking is staunchly traditional, involving whole-bunch fermentation with native yeasts, extended maceration, and aging in older large-format barrels. The wine is bottled without fining or filtration. The 2023 vintage is noted for a more classical style due to challenging weather conditions, potentially offering earlier accessibility.

## Interesting facts

- Guillaume Gilles uses horse-drawn plows in his organic vineyards.
- The wine is bottled without any fining or filtration.
- Gilles ferments his Syrah with 100% whole grape bunches.
- The average age of vines in the key Chaillot vineyard is 40 years.

## Food pairing

The wine's structure, with firm tannins and pronounced intensity, makes it an excellent match for rich protein and fatty dishes. The savory, potentially earthy notes in the wine will complement game and mushrooms, while the acidity will cut through richness.

## Wine making process

Guillaume Gilles' winemaking for Cuvée Gabriel is deeply rooted in tradition. The Syrah grapes are fermented with 100% whole bunches using only native yeasts, followed by a lengthy maceration period of around 30 days. The wine then matures for approximately 18 months in used large-format barrels (demi-muids and 400L). A key aspect of Gilles' approach is his commitment to minimal intervention, resulting in the wine being bottled without any fining or filtration, preserving its natural character and texture.