The finest expressions of Syrah anywhere in the world are produced in the Northern Rhône. The most northerly appellation is Côte Rôtie where, from the steep terraces of the ‘roasted slope’, wonderfully textured reds are produced that can be drunk relatively young or aged. We follow three growers here: Barge, Rostaing and Niero. The long-lived wines from the hill of Hermitage have been renowned since Roman times. Two great producers here are Chave and Colombier. Surrounding Hermitage is Crozes-Hermitage with more modest wines made by Domaine Mucyn and Cave des Clairmonts. Moving south, Cornas wines are now a lot gentler and more delicious thanks to the efforts of the likes of Thierry Allemand. Saint-Joseph, being a long, thin area, is hard to pin down style-wise but great examples come from Jamet, Chave and Perret. The Southern Rhône, by contrast, is all about blending different grapes together to achieve complexity. Grenache, Mourvèdre and Carignan mixes are common but in Châteauneuf-du-Pape thirteen different grape varieties are permitted! Vieux Télégraphe, Beaucastel and Font de Michelle, run by the Brunier, Perrin and Gonnet families respectively, are amongst the very cream of the appellation. The herby Châteauneuf style is also found in Vacqueyras and Gigondas, represented here by Pallières, Clos des Cazaux and Cayron. Great Côtes-du-Rhone Villages to try are from Grand Moulas (Ryckwaert), Courac, Suzeau and Gramenon.