New from Sylvain Bock

We are delighted to have just received a whole host of new arrivals from the inimitable Sylvain Bock.

Based in the south of Ardèche, in the small village of Alba-la-Romaine, Sylvain tends just over 6 hectares of vines planted on the hills that surround his home. His vineyards are some of the most beautiful we have had the pleasure of visiting, spread a few kilometres apart, they consist of either stark limestone or basalt soils, each giving the wines their signature mineral imprint. Year on year he produces incredibly balanced and strikingly pure wines that set the marker for what can be achieved when working in respect to nature.

We were lucky to spend an evening in late summer with Sylvain and his family walking through the vineyards and discussing the year that was. Although frost, hail and mildew were the main concerns for the southern Ardéchois in 2021, Sylvain was far more preoccupied by the heat and lack of rain they have endured over the past few years and it only becoming more commonplace in the future. Never one to stand still, in 2022 he will plant a hectare and a half of Assyrtiko, Xarel-lo and Ugni Blanc in the hills behind his cellar, searching for alternatives that are better suited to the increasing temperatures that are on the way.

After touring the vineyards we spent a few hours in the cellar tasting and discussing the current releases which includes a wine we are particularly excited about - Ella M’a Serré, Sylvain’s first macerated white wine. As well as this we also have two other new whites and his reds in bottle and magnum, all of which are tasting superb right now and feel so appropriate as the colder nights draw in.

All the wines are now available for home delivery via our online shop. For those in the trade, we will be opening Sylvain’s new wines at PT2 of our Autumn Tasting next Monday at Slurp in Dalston. To book in, or for more information on the wines, send us an email to sales@beattieandroberts.com.