Hervé Souhaut Clos des Cessieux Syrah 2023

Hervé Souhaut, the founder of Domaine Romaneaux-Destezet, is a prominent natural winemaker based in France's Northern Rhône and Ardèche regions. Established in 1993, Souhaut's winery is known for producing Syrah, Gamay, Viognier, and Roussanne from young and ancient vines, some as old as 100 years. His vineyards are rooted in granite-rich soils, and all farming is organic, strongly emphasizing minimal-intervention winemaking.

Souhaut's wines are celebrated for their purity and freshness, often described as "crystalline," with delicate, fruit-forward profiles that stand out in a region known for powerful, extracted wines. He uses techniques like whole-cluster fermentation and long maceration without de-stemming, followed by aging in neutral oak barrels. His wines, such as the Saint-Joseph and La Souteronne Gamay, showcase a balance of bright fruit, minerality, and the earthy complexity typical of Rhône wines, yet with a more restrained and elegant approach.

Though his wines fall under the natural wine category, they are widely appreciated by wine enthusiasts of all kinds due to their depth and precision. Offering something unique even to those unfamiliar with natural wine, Souhaut's commitment to expressing terroir through a low-intervention philosophy has made him a "rockstar" in the natural wine scene.

The Ardèche wine region is located in southern France, covering the Ardèche department and extending into the northern Gard department. It sits on the western banks of the Rhône River, bridging the northern and southern Rhône vineyards. The region is known for its diverse landscapes and climates, making it ideal for vine growing.

Ardèche wines have a long history, with evidence of viticulture dating back to antiquity. The region produces a variety of wines under the IGP (Indication Géographique Protégée) Ardèche designation, which was formerly known as Vin de Pays. This classification covers red, white, and rosé wines. Notable grape varieties include Grenache, Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Gamay, the indigenous Chatus for reds, and Chardonnay and Viognier for whites. Other varieties like Sauvignon Blanc, Clairette, Grenache Blanc, Ugni Blanc, Marsanne, and Roussanne are also cultivated.

The Ardèche region is characterized by its varied terroirs, including the mountainous central west, the high plateaux of the Haut-Vivarais and Cévennes, the Bas-Vivarais plains, and the volcanic Coiron plateau. The climate is predominantly Mediterranean, with hot, dry summers and mild winters. The Mistral wind from the north and sea breezes from the south influence the region's weather, contributing to sudden heavy rainfall in spring and autumn. Soils are typically limestone and sandstone, with pebbly, thin soils in vineyard areas that promote good grape concentration.

The production in Ardèche is dominated by cooperatives, which account for 80-95% of the total output. The Union des Vignerons des Coteaux de l'Ardèche (UVICA) oversees 12 cooperatives, with additional independent cooperatives and private producers contributing to the region's wine diversity. Ardèche wines range from fresh and balanced whites to robust and tannic reds, with Chatus being a standout variety.