Located in the foothills of the Pyrenees and surrounded by its vineyards, Domaine Gayda is a winery and a wine estate in the Languedoc, 25km south west of Carcassonne near the village of Brugairolles.
Domaine Gayda has a passion for the traditional ‘cépages’ of the Languedoc wine region in the South of France (grape varieties) grown across the many diverse soils and climates of vineyards situated throughout the Languedoc, giving “Provenance” to all our wines.
The winery grows organic grapes, “driven by our respect for the natural environment and to offer a wine of outstanding quality.”
In France, Chemin de Moscou wine has become an icon wine from the Languedoc, selling in all the top restaurants across France.
About Chemin de Moscou, Pays d’Oc IGP, Languedoc
“Chemin de Moscou” is named after the “Nom Cadastral” (land registry name) of the vineyards around our winery in the village of Brugairolles. The road leading to these vineyards is called “Chemin de Moscou”, the “Road to Moscow”.
The local villagers believe the name originated from the place outside the village where meetings were held, under the “L’arbre de Moscou” the “Moscow Tree”. This tree was used as a navigation beacon by pioneers of the Aéropostale service flying out of Toulouse on their way to Perpignan, Spain, North Africa and eventually South America. Stories of these flights have been immortalized by Saint Exupéry in his many books about his exploits. The tree, an enormous pine, was struck by lightning and burned to the ground over 20 years ago. The quality of the grapes guaranteed by our vines gives us a continuity of exceptional product for vinification.
Chemin de Moscou is a blend of 72% Syrah, 22% Grenache, and 6% Cinsault aged for 21 months in French oak barrels.
Grapes are sourced across the Languedoc-Roussillon region:
- Syrah : La Livinière, Latour de France, Calce, St Martin de Fenouillet & Brugairolles
- Grenache : Tautavel & La Livinière
- Cinsault : La Livinière
A third of the Syrah in matured ‘Burgundy’ new oak for 9 months. Grenache and Cinsault in 500 litre ‘demi-muids’ and 2000 litre ‘foudres’ for 9 months. Blending of the best barrels of each variety followed by a further 12 months maturation of the final blend in the same barrels.
Domaine Gayda Chemin de Moscou Wine Review
Score/Rating: 91+/100 points
The color on Gayda’s Chemin de Moscou is rather dark and intense, a deep dark red with ruby hues to the rim as we expect from a Syrah-based blend from Languedoc.
The nose is powerful and pungent, vibrantly fruity filled with dark cherry intensity and boasting the signature Syrah mark of spicy chili-like pepperiness. It so pungently smells like black pepper you almost feel like sneezing just at sniffing the wine.
Subtle notes of vanilla and soft oakiness, mild caramel and hazelnut with cocoa paste sweeten things up and smoothen the perception of this generously spicy aromatic profile.
Chemin de Moscou is a dry red with solid tannic density and crisp acidity that underlines the dominant vibrant cherry flavors.
It somewhat feels like biting into one of these acidic fresh cherries, the biting acidity but also the bursting fruity richness.
Tannins are a little grippy at this young stage of the wine’s life.
Yet it drinks pleasantly and seamlessly from a great balance thanks to its refreshing acidity. It feels much lighter and quaffable to drink than you’d expect from a round, oily and tannic 14% alcohol red wine.
Flavors of red berries burst and explode with an abundance of lifted spices; sweet ones live cinnamon but also the constant heap of pepperiness.
Again, the discrete well-integrated oakiness adds mildness and toasted sweetness to the wine for a great general harmony.
Overall
The purity of the Syrah expression, together with the seamless and nearly perfect balance of the wine make of Chemin de Moscou a nearly faultless wine when it comes to a precise expression of Syrah’s typicity.
If you love Syrah wine in its peppery, acidic yet generous personality, Chemin de Moscou IS the perfect wine. Grippy and full of personality, yet vibrant and punchy.
The ideal compromise between the tightness of a Northern Rhone Syrah and the generosity of a sunnier Southern Rhone or Aussie expression?
It may well be, in the same way as some New Zealand Syrah wines are, with the old-world depth and clay earthiness to the texture as a bonus.
Always harmonious and pleasing to quaff. What else do you need?
Enjoy… 🙂
Please let me know your thoughts