"Jean-Michel Stéphan, a man who respects and draws inspiration from the past, while also being modern and innovative, created his estate in 1991. It stretches over 4.5 ha in the Côte-Rôtie, including such legendary vineyard sites as Tupin, Semons and Bassenon. His vineyards are made up of 30% Sérine (considered the original stock of Syrah, a pure grape variety which makes wines finer, more full bodied and more complex), 10% Viognier and 60% Syrah, a cloned variety in this case. In terms of viticulture, ploughing is done by horse when possible (otherwise… with a hoe!), and soils are fertilized with natural compost. The goal here is to make natural wines, thus vinifications are done without sulfur, with whole bunches, followed by ageing in old barrels. Jean-Michel makes a few bottles of Condrieu and some Vin de Pays on the side, but his true love is the Côte-Rôtie – indeed there are few vignerons who have committed themselves with such precision and passion to one appellation..." -Cave Pur Jus

"Les Binardes comes from the vines Jean-Michel planted between 1994 and 1997 in the lower part of the Coteaux de Tupin and is an explosive and emblematic Côte-Rôtie. As is traditional in the area, a bit of Viognier is co-fermented with the Syrah, for a total of 10% in this wine. The wine is then aged for one year in stainless steel." -Leon and Son Wine

This wine has a candied olive quality, some typical Rhone horsey-ness and is overall a sublime example of what natural Rhone can look like. Spiced, raspberry red fruit.