Top Ten California Syrahs - 2016

I tend to taste and drink a lot of wine over the course of a year. I am in a few tasting groups, sometimes the wines are consumed at various local wine store tastings and a number drunk with friends and family.

2020 Cayuse Syrah Wallah Wallah Special #14, USA, Washington, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A

Bottled only in Magnum.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is classic Washington Syrah.  Black raspberries, char, slight burnt rubber, slight chocolate and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Nicely balanced.  On the palate, flavors of black raspberries, slight chocolate, char, black pepper and slight roasted meats.  Long finish.  This is complex and deep.  Still young but moving along.  Drink over the next ten to twenty years.  It will work well with grilled or Roasted foods (not seafood).

2017 Carlisle Syrah Papa's Block, USA, California, Sonoma, Russian River Valley,Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$53.00USD

Purple/ruby in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with dust, black raspberries, black olives and spice.  Lovely texture.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, raspberries, black raspberries, some char and a really interesting "sourdough bread" note.  Some warmth on the finish.  This is drinking well but should still improve with good cellaring.  It is great on its own and will works with many foods.  Grilled Eggplant would be nice but it would work with peppercorn encrusted steak or even tuna.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  

2016 K Vintners Syrah Motor City Kitty Oldfield-Boushey Vineyard, USA, Washington, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$42.00USD

This is Syrah from Washington.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, black olives, slight burnt rubber and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, there is lush black raspberry fruit with a bit of an herbal streak.  Good finish.  Overall, a pretty classic profile for a Washington state Syrah.  This is drinking well and nearing maturity but should drink well for another eight to twelve years.  It is very nice on its own and should work well with many foods.  It would pair well with Indian cuisine.  

2019 Sine Qua Non Syrah Distenta I, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
98
Grade: 
Current Price: 
$240.00USD

This drank very well considering how young it is.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is deep with black raspberries, cedar, black olives, slight violets and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Great texture.  On the palate, this is big and tasty.  Concentrated.  ll no doubt improve a bit as it matures, it offers up plenty of black raspberries, spice, roasted herbs and slight blueberries.  Long finish.  This should go another twenty years.  It is great on its own but needs big food for now.  It worked well with pizza but would also be nice  with Roasted Squash.  

2017 Sami-Odi ‘Hoffmann Dallwitz’ Syrah, Australia, Barossa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A

Just a beautiful Syrah from Australia.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is very nice with black raspberries, black olives, black cherries, slight floral notes and char.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Great balance.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Plenty of depth with flavors of black raspberries, black pepper, black cherries and char.  Long finish.  This is drinking well at age 8 but should still develop more.  Drink over the next twelve to twenty years.  Great on its own, this will be better with some food.  It will work great with Indian food.  

2020 Bedrock Wine Co. Syrah T 'n' S Blocks Hudson Vineyard South, USA, California, Carneros, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$51.00USD

Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black raspberries, bacon fat, char, spice and slight floral tones.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this is a big wine but not over blown.  Flavors of black raspberries, roasted meats and slight herbal notes.  Long finish.  This is still on the young side, so give it air if drinking now.  It should drink well for another ten to fifteen years.  This would work well with Indian cuisine.  

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