Syrah

The grapes for this wine come principally from the Mollard lieu-dit (65%) with the rest coming from Font-Jean, Viallière, and La Landonne.  It is a blend of Syrah 93%, and Viognier 7%.  Just a stunning wine, and for Cote Rotie, a great value.  Purple in color with a slight ruby rim, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, smoke, slight bacon fat, and slight violets.  Full bodied.  Good acidity. Great glycerin driven texture.  On the palate, black raspberries and black pepper.  Firm tannins.    Long finish.  This needs a bit more time and then should drink well for the next twent

This is the first ever vintage of this wine.  Made from a massal (various clones growing together) selection of 65 year old vines at the top of the hill.  The Syrah is Serines which is a particular clone of Syrah that is native to the northern Rhone.  Some people think it is a distinct varietal but that is yet to be proven.  Purple in color with ruby swirls, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, black cherries, violets and char.  A wonderful velvety texture.  Medium tannins.  Great balance.  Delicious.  On the palate, black raspberries, smoke, and great minerality.  Tig

This is 100% Syrah.  Purple in color with ruby swirls, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black raspberries, smoked meat, slight graphite and spices.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  Nice acidity.  On the palate, black raspberries with underlying minerality.  Great, lush texture.  Long finish.  Delicious.  This could use a few more years, but is drinking well already.  It should drink well for the next twenty to twenty-five years.  Great on its own, this will work well with hearty stews or other big foods.  Is should improve with cellar time.  

This winery recently sold.  While the former owners, Napa legends Carole Meredith and Steve Lagier, are entitled to work a bit less, the wines will be missed.  Quality Syrah (and others) at very fair pricing.  This one is no exception.  2009 was a good vintage provided the grapes were harvested before the early fall rains.  It would appear these were.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black raspberries, black pepper, slight gamey meats.  Medium to full bodied.  Very concentrated.  On the palate, light tannins.  Plenty of black raspberry fruit with some black pepper

This is a blend of 55% Grenache, 24% Mourvèdre, 13% Syrah, and 8% Counoise.  No doubt in a few years this merits a 100 score.  Right now, it is very young, and although amazing, it needs time to come together.  Inky purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, black cherries, black pepper, and floral notes.  Full bodied.  This wine is a bruiser!  Medium tannins.  Great balance.  On the palate, gobs of black raspberries, black cherries with some black pepper and nice underlying minerality.  Long finish.  No harm drinking now but another five years of cellaring

It had been a while since I tasted this.  At age 17, it is still youthful and vibrant!  This bottle had been purchased from a Napa retailer relatively recently.  A blend of 71% Syrah, 20% Mourvedre, and 10% Grenache.  Inky purple in color, starting to show just a hint of browning at the rim.  The nose has black raspberries, bacon fat, white pepper, with roasted meats and herbs.  Great texture; soft but explicit if that makes sense.  Light on its  feet.  On the palate, black raspberries, black pepper, slight salinity, and crushed rock.  Long finish.  Complex and delicious.  This is drinking

Another stunning Syrah from this winery!  Syrahs from Washington are unique.  They really show the terroir.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, burnt rubber, black olives, smoked meats and spice.  Full bodied.  Light tannins.  Great balance.  On the palate, black raspberries, crushed rocks, and black pepper.  Long finish.  Delicious.  This has a certain elegance in it not often found in new world Syrah.  No harm opening now, but it should continue to mature and maybe even get better.  Great on its own, this would work really well wit

Sadly, Shiraz from Australia has gone a bit out of style, but there are still some damn good ones.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, black olives and black pepper.  Full bodied.  Nice texture.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this seems just a bit shy of maturity.  Lots of black raspberry fruit, some coffee and black pepper.  Long finish.  While this is a big wine, it is not an ooze monster at all.  Drink over the next fifteen years.  This is great on its own and will work well with Lamb Stew.

The trio of Guigal La La Cote Rotie's are legendary as some of the greatest wines in the world.  Any time one gets to try a bottle is a rare occasion.  Now, 2002 was not a great or even good vintage, but this bottle had been purchased for an affordable price on release and well stored waiting for the right time to open.  At age 20, it was drinking quite well if not at the level of some better vintages.  This is 95% Syrah and 5% Viognier which was less than usual due to the botrytis that came from the wet conditions.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is pretty with black ra

This is the basic Cote Rotie from purchased fruit.  It is 96% Syrah with 4% Viognier that saw 36 months in barrel, half of that new oak.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is very nice with black raspberries, black pepper, black olives and slight smoke.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, black raspberries with underlying char.  Plenty of depth.  Long finish.  This is delicious on its own and should be very food friendly.  It would be perfect with a steak.  Drink over the next ten to twelve years.