This North African Syrah may just be the dark horse of the Graillot portfolio, though it still delivers plenty of interest and value. For those new to this wine, it hails from the Atlantic ventilated hills of Morocco’s Zenata region in the lee of the spectacular Middle Atlas Mountains. The relatively cool climate and altitude here–and the mix of red and black clay over a base of limestone and ancient ocean bed remnants–provide the right mix of conditions for scented, juicy, layered Syrah that Alain Graillot hopes will showcase the surprising potential of Morocco. The story has it that Alain was cycling in Morocco (hence the tandem bike and palm tree on the label) when he stopped off at Domaine des Ouled Thaleb, 40 km inland from the Atlantic Ocean. A conversation with the Domaine's then oenologist, Jacques Poulaine, and a close look at sites in Rommani and Benslimane convinced Graillot of the potential for producing highly elegant Syrah. The towns of Rommani and Benslimane lie between Casablanca on the Atlantic Ocean and the Middle Atlas mountains. As such, there is a relatively cool climate thanks to the ocean breezes and an altitude of about 500 metres.
The Syrah vines are 10-40-years-old (average 25 years). Overseen by Stéphane Mariot, the vineyard work is meticulous, with goblet pruning, hand-weeding and hand-ploughing, no herbicide or fungicide treatments are used. The grapes were 100% destemmed and fermented in closed concrete vats. Daily pump-overs were done and maceration was completed in ten days. The wine was aged for 15 months, first in tanks, and then finished in large oak casks imported from Burgundy (from François Frères).