New Arrivals from Sylvain Bock

Sylvain Bock is based in the southern Ardéchoise town of Alba-la-Romaine where he has been running his domaine since 2010. After years of experience working with local legend Gerald Oustric of Le Mazel he set off on his own and has now amassed 7 hectares of organically certified vines planted nearby to his cellar.

Sylvain works his vineyards across two terroirs here in the south of Ardeche. Closest to the cellar, the mostly flat vineyards are based on a pure golden limestone with very little topsoil and are planted with Chardonnay and Grenache Blanc, as well as a few rows of old vine Grenache Noir and Merlot. Further north in the valley, and at higher altitude, we find Gamay, Syrah and some more Grenache Noir planted on basalt soils on the slopes of an extinct volcano.

Over the years he has learned how to get the best from these plots, and now will most often opt to ferment the grapes on their stems ensuring a perfect balance of fruit, freshness and drinkability, often belying the ‘glou glou’ traits commonly associated with carbonic maceration. Other work in the cellar is minimal, with élevage taking place in a mixture of cuve and barrique, and wines bottled with no additions.

In the last few years work was completed on a new cellar in Alba-La-Romaine which has allowed Sylvain the space to further age wine he does not believe is ready to be bottled. His palate as well as his experience and imagination often dictate how the final cuvées are assembled. Raffut and Suck A Rock are always single varieties where his old vines do the talking, but others such as Fruit Jazz and Les Grelots vary depending on how Sylvain feels they will express themselves best.

The first producer we imported, Sylvain and his wines hold a special place in our hearts and with the arrival of each new vintage it is clear that this is a vigneron at the absolute top of their game, whose wines continue to impress year after year.

The first wines of the 2022 vintage have arrived and are available in our online shop. For trade inquiries, please email sales@beattieandroberts.com.