Saint-Péray is a tiny appellation in the south of the northern Rhône, consisting of some 62 hectares of vines planted on granite overlaid by limestone, silt and loess soils. It’s a white wine appellation, with the majority of the vines being Marsanne, with a bit of Roussanne and a tiny bit of Roussette. Many of the wines are sparkling, but increasingly, quite serious still whites are being made here. These are a couple I’ve recently tried.
JL & F Thiers Saint-Péray Du Biguet Mousseux NV
Fruity, bright, pithy and lively this is subtly toasty with pear and citrus fruit. Quite savoury with nice taut acidity. There’s interest and personality here. 88/100 (£15.95 Yapp)
Tardieu Laurent Saint-Péray 2009
Rich, ripe, toasty, peachy nose. The palate is broad and fine with fat flavours of pear, peach, vanilla and spice. A rich, broad, complex oaked white of some appeal. Fine. 90/100 (£18.99 Corney & Barrow)
Roussette? I wonder which one, do you know anyone using this? In Savoie there is Altesse that used to be known as Roussette and the wines still are, but then there is also another variety, I believe still called Roussette d’Ayse in the cru of that name.
Found a 2004 St Peray (still) from Cave de Tain in the cellar last month and it was just about still alive, with some of that mature, rich yellow fruit intensity still evident.