“Que Syrah, Syrah” Tasting on April 25th 6pm

 

 

1-Epoch Estate Wines 2016 Syrah Block B Paso Robles California
Jeb Dunnuck 98 Rating $99.99
Coming all from a single parcel in the estate Paderewski Vineyard (all Syrah, and clone 174) and raised in 80% new French oak, the 2016 Syrah Block B reveals a saturated purple color as well as a massive bouquet of blackberries, blueberries, bacon fat, graphite, ground pepper, and violets. Deep, rich, and powerful, yet still light on its feet, it's one of the most singular, brilliant Syrahs in the vintage.

 

2-Booker Vineyard 2018 Fracture Paso Robles California
Jeb Dunnuck 98 Rating $99.99
Another magical wine, the 2018 Fracture is based on 100% Syrah brought up in new and used French oak. Deep purple-hued, with beautiful notes of crème de cassis, blackberries, vanilla bean, toasted spices, white flowers, and a hints of charcuterie, this beauty hits the palate with full-bodied richness, perfectly integrated oak, a rounded, lush mouthfeel, and a great finish. This unabashedly Paso Robles Syrah brings loads of fruit yet stays balanced, elegant, and is simply a thrill to drink.

 

3-Long Shadows 2019 Sequel Syrah Columbia Valley
Jeb Dunnuck 95 Rating $54.99
The 2019 Syrah Sequel is a big, rich, meaty, powerful beauty offering copious amounts of ripe black fruits as well as ground pepper, chocolate, graphite, and spicy oak all soaring from the glass. It packs a punch, as always, with its ripe, sexy style, yet it shows the cooler, elegant style of the vintage beautifully and is balanced, has ripe tannins, and a great finish. It’s going to cruise for 10-12 years in cold cellars.

 

4-K Vintners 2019 Syrah Rockgarden Vineyard Walla Walla Valley Washington State
Jeb Dunnuck 95 Rating $44.99
Iron, black olives, peppery herbs, and both red and black fruits all emerge from the 2019 Syrah Rockgarden Vineyard, a balanced, deep, medium to full-bodied beauty with fine tannins and just about flawless balance. Coming all from the Rockgarden Vineyard in the Rocks region of the Walla Walla Valley and 100% Syrah that was not destemmed and was brought up in 40% new barrel, it's drinking brilliantly today and will cruise in cold cellars for a decade. Best After 2022.

 

5-Denner Vineyards 2021 Dirt Worshipper Syrah Paso Robles California
Jeb Dunnuck 98 Rating $79.99
A more Syrah-dominated release, the 2021 Dirt Worshipper is textbook Syrah magic with is peppery, gamey dark fruits, iron, tapenade, sandalwood, and violet-laced aromas and flavors. It’s rich, medium to full-bodied, has a concentrated, layered mouthfeel, and a great finish. Based on 88% Syrah, 7% Petit Verdot, 4% Graciano, and 1% Viognier that was fermented with 40% whole clusters and aged 20 months in 25% new French and Hungarian oak, it will probably merit a triple-digit rating in 4-5 years, and I’d be happy to put this up with the best Syrah’s out there.

 

6-K Vintners 2022 Syrah M.C.K. Motor City Kitty Yakima Valley Washington State
James Suckling 98 Rating $38.99
This is an extremely complex, smoky, terroir-driven syrah that offers crushed wild berries and plum skins layered with hints of white pepper and cured meat. Broad, mouth-filling and full-bodied, it has a mineral, peppery edge and dusty, very fine tannins. Long and persistent, showing hints of crushed herbs and ashy soil in the end. Drink or hold.

 

7-Tensley 2023 Syrah Santa Barbara County California
Wine Spectator 94 Rating $39.99
This rich and complex version leads with details of lilac, toasted herbs, slate and pepper that yield a deeply concentrated core of cherry, brambly raspberry and cassis. A subtle, caviarlike, salty brine–umami note on the back end drives the finish, where there’s a bit of tannins. Lingers around mineral and herb flavors. Drink now through 2038. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Questions? Text me at 941-404-9685