Maison Maenad, L’Être 2024
Place: Jura (Beaujolais Fruit), France
Grape: Syrah
Vibe: Gold Dust
2024 was a tough year for most producers in the Jura. Whole harvests were literally lost due to the weather. It’s truly a shame to see such hardworking vignerons struck by such cruel circumstances. The only positive is that it forced some to seek out négociant fruit. I’ve now tasted this twice at two salons across the channel and have been blown away by what Katie has managed to achieve. It’s no surprise given her deft hand in the Jura, but these are without a doubt some of the best négociant wines I’ve had, not just from the Jura, but full stop.
Syrah on sand from the eastern part of the Northern Rhône. Two weeks of whole-bunch maceration, followed by one year of élevage. Unmistakably Syrah in its spiced profile, but with an ethereal energy you often only find in the Jura. Stunning. My favourite expression of the grape.