Syrah
2015 Bedrock, Syrah
North Coast, California
Aromatics are highly perfumed right from opening. With air the massive blueberry and blackberry notes detected settle down and integrate in scents of black pepper, black olive, vanilla cream and sarsaparilla, baking spice, red meats with traces of bacon fat and floral accents. Full and bold on the palate showing great concentration, depth and structure. Big creamy textures with moderate-plus tannins, acidity, alcohol and mid-palate density are impressive. Flavors of rich blackberry, juicy blueberry, plum and boysenberry come with vanilla cream, black pepper, floral pastilles, sarsaparilla, baking spice, black olive, grilled meats and bacon fat. Long and strong through the finish.
$19 – 92 Points
2014 Waters, Syrah, Old Stones
Walla Walla Valley, Oregon
100% Syrah from “The Rocks” region of the Walla Walla Valley on the Oregon side.
Highly aromatic with Northern Rhone resemblance. Grilled meats and bacon scents meet notes turmeric, crushed violet, crushed rock and cigar smoke that are followed by aromas of blueberry, huckleberry and smashed blackberry with hints of olive, sandalwood, sage and eucalyptus.
The palate is even more dynamic with gorgeous full fine-grained tannins, juicy berry acidity and flavors that envelope the palate with ripe blueberry, huckleberry and boysenberry notes that are intertwined with sarsaparilla, cola, smoke, violets, herbs, earth, charred grilled steak, pepper, turmeric and hints of wet stone and olive. Long and lingering on the finish. An exceptional Syrah that displays terroir and great winemaking.
2013 Rulo, Syrah, Silo
Red Mountain, Washington
This wine is 100% Syrah from the Ranch at the End of the Road Vineyard on Red Mountain. This is the reserve Syrah from Rulo. Intense aromas show notes of brown sugar, baking spice, vanilla, violets, lavender, blackberry, blueberry, dark cherries, cassis and Chambord. With streaks of black forest cake.
Vivid and spicy on the palate with balance between the acidity, tannins and alcohol. Flavors upon show verve and richness in the flavors of baking spice, vanilla, blackberry & blueberry compote, plum sauce, dark cherries, crushed violets, lavender and brown sugar. Plush through the finish that highlights the barrel accents, velvety tannins and deep fruit.
2015 Penfolds, Shiraz Bin 128
Coonawarra, Australia
In the world of Aussie Shiraz there are some beautiful subtleties to be explored and enjoyed. This Shiraz from Coonawarra is considered a cool climate Shiraz and is an interesting counterpoint to some of the more opulent warm climate regions. Classic Coonawarra . The nose shows fresh beef tartare, cured meats, fresh milled pepper, herbs, menthol, brambly blackberries, plum, and light touches of oak. On the palate this wine is commanding and expressive with blackberries, loganberry, and black plum skin notes that also show cured meats, beef carpaccio, sage, earth, spices and oak. Grippy tannins hang through the long finish.
2016 Structure Cellars, Syrah, Bauhause
Horse Heaven Hills, Washington
1100% Syrah, 57% second fill oak, 29% neutral oak, 14% new oak
Only 175 cases produced.
Showing decadent aromas of ripe smashed marionberry, blueberry, plum, deep violets, sandalwood, cinnamon, pepper, earth, cocoa and devils food cake.
The palate is rich and spicy with cinnamon and pepper macerated marionberry and blueberry with additional flavors of plum, violet, dark chocolate, vanilla, earth and oak. The finish is plush showing moderate-plus across the board; acid, tannin, alcohol and body.
Absolutely a great QPR.
2017 Herman Story, Syrah, Nuts & Bolts
California
100% Syrah aged in 83% New French oak for 18 months.
Heavily scented with deep blueberry, plum, bramble berry and elderberry with scents of mesquite smoke, cardamom, ground pepper, violets, cured meats, vanilla and earth.
The palate is suave showing density and structure, intensity and finesse. Flavors of baking spiced scented blueberries, blackberry and plums, with vanilla, grill smoke, violets, pepper rubbed meats, herbs and earth all lingering through the spice laden finish.
2018 Waters, Syrah ‘Waterstone’
Coming from the cobblestone Waterstone vineyard in Milton-Freewater. Only 250 cases Produced.
Very nicely perfumed with notes of violets, sandalwood, star anise and cardamom that meet notes of blue, purple and black fruits, pepper, earth, brine, wet stone, butcher's blood, black olive and gunmetal.
The palate has an impressive full and smooth body. Ripe-plush tannins and juicy acidity give way to a supple mouthfeel and creamy mid-palate.
Flavors deliver notes of blueberry, blackberry and fig paste with notes of violet pastilles, sandalwood, exotic spice, vanilla crème, black olive, brine, saline, iron, earth and rock. The satiny finish is long.
2017 d'Arenberg, Shiraz ‘The Dead Arm’
Saturated dark ruby in the glass. Aromas, though restrained, show concentrated marionberry, dark cherry, black plum and cassis notes that bring in scents of turned earth, violets, spice, sandalwood, vanilla, barrel accents and hints of wild mint.
The wine enters with power and thrust. Great tension between the firm almost chewy tannins and the berry like acidity. Flavors show a mixture of muddled blackberries and plums with dark cherry, cassis, vanilla, baking spices, black pepper and lighter nuances of liquid violets, earth and anise. The finish is masculine where the slow building tannins flex.