Wine of the Week: 2009 Domaine Faury Syrah

Wine importer Kermit Lynch has always specialized in ferreting out small producers making high-quality wines. One such estate is that of Philippe Faury and his son Lionel in the northern Rhone. Faury’s basic Syrah is a vin de pays with the geographic designation Collines Rhodaniennes. But it tastes like St. Joseph’s younger brother and, with its notes of sour plum, rhubarb, spice and smoke, delivers a bona fide northern Rhone flavor. A great everyday Syrah from a highly respected producer of textbook Cote-Rotie, St. Joseph and Condrieu and a terrific value for the price.

Pop open a bottle to enjoy with a plate of Serrano or other raw-cured ham, a pork roast with rosemary or some barbecued pork chops.

— S. Irene Virbila

Region: Collines Rhodaniennes, France (northern Rhone)

Price: About $20.

Style: Supple and spicy.

What it goes with: serrano or other raw-cured ham, pork roast, grilled pork chops, charcuterie.

Where to find it: 15 Degrees C Wine Shop and Bar in Templeton, (805) 434-1554; the 3rd Corner Wine Shop & Bistro in Encinitas, (760) 942-2104, the3rdcorner.com; L.A. Wine Co. in Marina del Rey, (310) 306-9463, https://www.lawineco.com; Silverlake Wine in Los Angeles, (323) 662-9024, https://www.silverlakewine.com; Wine Exchange in Orange, (714) 974-1454, https://www.winex.com; and Wine Steals in Cardiff-by-the-Sea (760) 230-2657, https://www.winestealssd.com.

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