2011 Rhys Chardonnay Alpine Vineyard, USA, California, Santa Cruz, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2011
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A+

Golden in color.  The nose is classic Rhys and gorgeous.  Lemon cream and vanilla with an underlying rocky minerality.  On the palate, this is almost seamless in a creamy texture.  Lemon and vanilla notes.  Bright fruit.  It is not as big as some vintages but this is not reticent either.  Delicious.  Still youthful.  It opens in the glass and improves in the bottle.  So good right now it might not be worth risking holding, but it should still get better.  One of the best California Chardonnays I have had.  

2009 Domaine Roulot Meursault 1er Cru Les Poruzots, France, Burgundy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2009
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

Light golden in color.  The nose has some lemons, a bit of hay but a touch of oxidation as well.  Not too much though.  On the palate, the lemons carry thru with nice acidity.  Slightly candied on the finish.  This kept improving all night with air and the bit of oxidation seemed less obvious as other elements were more present.  Nice finish.  This worked quite well with a funghi pizza.  It may improve a bit with more storage, but it seems like it should be drunk sooner than later at this point.  Of course, one always worries with oxidation and white Burgundies.  

2015 Gramercy Cellars Syrah Lower East, USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

Purple in color with ruby swirls.  This was tight but opened quickly to show black raspberries, slight roasted meats and a bit of pepper.  On the palate, this has a silky texture.  Black cherries.  Light tannins.  Nice finish.  This is probably as good as this gets but should be nice drinking for five years.  At $25 retail, this is fairly priced.  Will work with medium and heavier foods.  

2015 Tenet Wines Syrah The Pundit, USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

This is a great value for around $20.  Having had it in multiple vintages, it is very consistent.  Inky purple in color.  The nose is dusty with black raspberries, black pepper and some cedar.  A bit of roasted meat as well.  On the palate, this is big and fruity but there is also depth and complexity.  Bright acidity.  Good finish.  This will work with big or spicy foods.  It should last for 5 to 8 years but probably won't get better.  That's ok, it is really good today.  

2015 Carr Vineyards & Winery Syrah, USA, California, Santa Barbara, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is dusty with black raspberries and some roasted meats.  On the palate, this has sweet black raspberry fruit.  It approaches cloying but not quite.  Also some blueberries.  This is a big jammy fruit filled wine.  It will probably a difficult food match but drinks easy and great on its own.  Hard to say how long it will age but drinking in the next five years should be safe.  

2014 Revelry Vintners Syrah Block 18, USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

Purple with ruby swirls.  The nose is tight on opening but reveals smoky black raspberries.  On the palate, this is sweet black raspberry fruit.  It has a nice complexity to it and is more "elegant" than a fruit bomb.  Drinking quite well, it will probably still improve with good cellaring.  Food friendly for most foods.  Nice finish.  It retails for around $60.

2014 K Vintners Syrah Motor City Kitty, USA, Washington, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

Purple/ruby in color.  The nose has black raspberries, black pepper and a burnt rubber note that is present (in a good way) in many Washington Syrahs.  On the palate, there is nice boysenberry fruit.  Layered but tight with fruit and crushed rocks.  There is an almost seamless texture to this wine that is really nice.  It will work with a wide variety of food and has a nice backbone of acidity to assist.  Good finish.  This competes with wines at twice the price.  Good now, it probably won't improve but should remain here for at least five and probably ten more years.  

2014 Reynvaan Family Vineyards Syrah Stonessence, USA, Washington, Walla Walla, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

This was very good, but given the price (around $100), quite disappointing.  Purple/ruby in color.  The nose is earthy with some funk and meaty tones.  Also some black raspberries.  On the palate, this has a sour cherry note.  It is not to dissimilar for red cherry soda with a bit or sweetness to match the sour fruit.  Medium bodied.  An almost aquarium note, so perhaps this was poorly stored during shipment (the storage on the receiving end was fine).  In any event, it was good with a northern Rhone, cooler climate quality to it with sour cherry fruit.  Would work with food.  

2013 K Vintners Syrah The Deal Sundance Vineyard, USA, Washington, Wahluke Slope, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

Ruby/purple in color.  The nose is nice with coffee, black raspberries and black olives.  Very much a Washington meets the Northern Rhone nose.  On the palate, this is tannic.  Black cherry fruit.  Tight layers of fruit and earth.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  This continued to improve in the glass all night.  Still very tight and young, there is certainly plenty of upside potential left.  It will be interesting to see where this is in five years as it approaches peak.  

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