Malsert’s buoyant Vin de France comes from five parcels of mass-selection Syrah planted in Sécheras high above the Rhône River. At 360 to 420 metres, these sites are just too high to be part of the Saint-Joseph appellation. Fermented wild with whole bunches, Jeff raised this wine in concrete to accentuate its vibrant, early drinking nature. There’s also lighter extraction compared to the Saint-Joseph. Blurring the lines between the granite terroirs of Rhône and Beaujolais, it is bursting with notes of smoked meat, violets and cola bottles balanced by juicy tannins, high-grown crunch and a vibrant, ‘another-glass-please’ finish.