Syrah

This was brought to a dinner party by a friend who reps the wine.  It was the first time trying this winery, but of course 2015 is such a great vintage in the Northern Rhone that my expectations were high.  Indeed, this wine delivers.  It is an old school styled wine that really has a lot going on.  It retails for around $25 which is a nice value.  Purple in color, a bit flat in appearance.  The nose is great but there is some funk/barnyard (if that bothers you).  Also some plums, a bit of spice and black pepper.  On the palate, this has light tannins.  Good acidity.  Black raspberries and

This is a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon and 38% Syrah from Cayuse Vineyard in Washington.  At eleven years from vintage it is rolling along just fine.  Pop and pour and it was drinking quite well.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is nice with black raspberries, black cherries, slight burnt rubber/iron and a bit of a slight green herbal note (tarragon?).  On the palate, this has a lovely texture.  Juicy, black raspberries, black cherries with slight char underneath.  Good finish.  Worked well with roasted mushrooms.  Should have another decade left if well stored but I doubt it

This is a blend of 45% Syrah, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Petite Verdot and it is delicious.  Drinking very well right now, it will change over time as different varietals take more of a lead.  Right now, the Syrah is dominant.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, roasted meats, blueberries and char.  On the palate, this is a big wine and full of fruit.  It also has plenty of depth and complexity.  Juicy texture.  Great balance.  Long finish.  This wine has great acidity that will work well with roasted meats.  Indian dishes should match quite well.  

Halcon makes some great cooler climate Syrah's at very fair pricing.  Definitely check them out.  They do take some time to mature and this one was just starting to hit its stride though it was better on Day 2.  If drinking the 2012 now, give it a few hours of air.  Purple in color.  The nose has black raspberries, slight black pepper, a hint of bacon fat, and slight earthy notes.  On the palate, this is lean and mean as opposed to being a fruit bomb.  Yet, there is persistent black raspberry fruit with a nice underlying char.  It is deep but will need time to show more layering.  That said

Normally, its better to let Saxum's wait ten years from vintage to really get the best but the Paderewski is a different animal.  It is 34% Mourvedre, 33% Zinfandel, 13% Petite Sirah, 12% Syrah and 8% Tempranillo.  Because of that it changes as it ages with the Zin showing more in its youth and fading a bit back with time.  This bottle was beautiful.  Purple in color.  The nose is deep and intoxicating with black cherries, roasted meats, leather, black raspberries, black pepper and cherries.  On the palate, this has a lush chewy texture.  Delicious.  Lots of fruit right now with black cherr

These usually take at least five years and really ten to open up, but this is drinking very well right now, if a bit tight and young.  It is delicious.  Purple inc olor.  The nose has boysenberries, slight black olive, black pepper and slightly roasted herbs.  On the palate, this has medium tannins.  Juicy black raspberry fruit with underlying char and slight leathery notes.  Deep and tightly layered.  It takes some coaxing but unwinds in the glass.  Long finish.  Needs spicy or meat dishes or even roasted veggies.  Some upside, this needs about five years to peak and should have a decade m

Purple in color.  The nose is great with black raspberries, black pepper, slight charred meats and hints of bacon.  On the palate, this is pretty ripe for St. Joseph but well with limits.  Lovely, full texture.  Lots of black raspberry fruit with underlying earth.  Deep with layers that unwind in the glass.  Still young but getting there.  Needs bigger or spicy foods to match.  Works well on its own.  A bit expensive for a St. Joseph but well worth the $60 tariff release price. 

This wine is a testament to the many different profiles of Syrah.  For the most part this drinks cooler climate, but then boom, a bit of warm California sunshine peeks out.  Purple in color.  The nose has boysenberries, char and black pepper.  With air some leather and black olives come out.  On the palate, this has a nice texture.  Good structure.  Seems to be drinking very well now and close-ish to peak.  Easily another decade left.  Light tannins.  Boysenberries over minerals.  But then a bit grilled meats too.  Nice acidity.  Nice finish.  Rhys is a producer more know for its Pinot Noir

One of the better Shiraz out there.  At 12 years from vintage, this was in a beautiful place.  It is still youthful and will easily go another decade or more.  Inky purple in color. The nose has black raspberries, iodine, black pepper, violets and slight grilled meats. On the palate, this has a lovely texture; glycerin and full bodied but with good acidity that cuts through.  Lots of black raspberry fruit, light tannins and underlying minerality.  Worked well with food.  Nice finish.  Proof that at least some of the huge Shiraz bombs will stand the test of time.  

This is quite good but needs a bit of cellar time to hit its potential.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has black raspberries, roasted meats, leather and slight white pepper.  It seems tight and tannic on the palate.  With air it has pretty sweet black raspberry fruit with some charred meat and an underlying mineral streak.  Good finish.  This has plenty of upside but if drinking before 2020, give it a nice decant.