A dinner event at LUCA featuring Rhone Valley grapes (red only), but not necessarily from the Rhone Valley.
1983 Vignon Chateauneuf du Papes
A highly unusual wine, this was only bottled in 2022 after being discovered in concrete vats sealed off from the air by a naturally formed barrier of tartaric acid crystals. A blend of 10 varieties, with the majority Grenache, it has great freshness and typical CNDP smokiness.
2009 Paul Jaboulet Croze Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert
A textbook syrah from an exceptional vintage in the northern Rhone. Drinking perfectly now, the tannins have become sweet and velvety with age.
1997 Penfolds Grange
A superb vintage, 96% shiraz, 4% cabernet sauvignon. Fully mature now, soft and multilayered with all the complexity expected from one of the great wines of the world. Will be a perfect match for the lamb.
2015 Selvapiana Syrah
Italy is producing some very good syrah now, typified by a combination of richness and freshness. They go well with dark chocolate based desserts because the cocoa butter in the chocolate lends just enough creamy roundness to complement the smooth structure of the wine and the balance of bitter and sweet works well with the dark fruit and dry edges in the wine.