February 25, 2018
Que Syrah, Syrah California Syrah vs.Washington Syrah
1. 2012 Thorn-Clarke Shotfire Ridge Shiraz Barossa Valley, Australia
"A generous medium to full-bodied wine, the bouquet and palate offering plum, blackberry, and dabs of chocolate and vanilla ex oak first up, given complexity by the brambly, savoury finish." James Halliday Rated 92, Australian Wine Companion
"Bright purple. Sexy cassis, blackberry and vanilla aromas are complemented by hints of peppery spices, licorice and mocha. Fleshy and broad on the palate, offering intense dark berry flavors, a touch of spicecake and very good depth. The licorice and cassis notes repeat on the energetic, youthfully tannic finish." Rated 91 by Vinous / Antonio Galloni
2. 2013 Tensley Syrah Santa Barbara County Colson Canyon Vineyard
"The largest-scaled Colson Canyon to date, the 2013 Syrah Colson Canyon is classic cassis, black raspberry, graphite and toasty notes to go with a full-bodied, concentrated and layered profile on the palate. This got a big "Wow" in the notes, and while it doesn't pull any punches with regards to fruit or texture, it stays lively and elegant. It will have 10-15 years of longevity." Rated 97 Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate
"Violets, new leather, smoke, licorice, plum, black cherry and sweet spices meld together in the 2013 Syrah Colson Canyon Vineyard. A wine of remarkable depth and purity, the 2012 boasts superb intensity and depth. This is another highly promising wine from Joey Tensley. Rated 94 Vinous/Antonio Galloni
3. 2010 Polkura Syrah Block G + I Rapel Valley Chile
This block-selection Syrah is a kissing cousin of Polkura's more basic yet excellent Syrah from Marchigue in western Colchagua. It shows plenty of oak, vanilla and black-fruit ripeness, but on the palate it's nicely balanced and runs a mile deep. Toasty, smoky blackberry flavors end with mocha notes and oomph. Rated 93 Editors’ Choice - Wine Enthusiast Magazine
4. 2007 Tenimenti Luigi d'Alessandro "Il Bosco" Syrah Cortona Italy
There's lovely structure to this subtle, rich Syrah that gives so much in texture and beauty. Full, yet polished and refined. Chewy and powerful on the finish. Says Côte-Rôtie in Italian. Rated 95 Wine Spectator
Dark ruby. Gorgeous syrah-typical aromas of black plum macerated in alcohol and dried herbs, with pretty nuances of pepper and smoky grilled bacon. Then rich, fleshy and sweet on the palate, with similar flavors to the aromas and a persistent, balsamic finish. The tannins really build on the back, but there's so much ripe fruit that this wine never turns dry or austere. Unquestionably the best Il Bosco ever, if in a distinctly high-octane style. It's safe to say that nobody in Italy is making better syrah today than Massimo D'Alessandro, who must be credited for having been the first to grasp Cortona's great potential for this variety. Rated 91 Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar
5. 2010 Kontos Syrah Walla Walla Valley Washington
Garnet violet color. Aromas of clay, sour cherry, nut brittle, and honeycomb with a supple, fruity-yet-dry medium-to-full body and a tangy, spiced pear and peach accented finish with silky fine tannins. A very flavorful and stylish, Rhone-like syrah for all occasions. tastings.com
6. 2005 The Colonial Estate "Exile" Shiraz Barossa Valley Australia
The 2005 Exile was sourced from a single dry-farmed vineyard owned by the winery and located in the center of Nuriootpa. It is composed of 85% Shiraz, 10% Mourvedre, and 5% Grenache and was aged for 18-20 months in new French oak. Deep cherry-colored, it exhibits an alluring perfume of toasty oak, wood smoke, Asian spices, tar, blueberry, and black cherry. This leads to a full-bodied wine with chewy fruit, ripe flavors, great depth and concentration, and a pure, lengthy finish. Give this hedonistic effort 3-5 years in the cellar and drink it through 2030. Rated 95 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Inky purple. Hugely aromatic, room-filling bouquet of dark berry compote, dark chocolate, violet, licorice and suave oak spices. Creamy and sweet but admirably restrained, with palate-staining flavors of kirsch, cassis and floral pastille. Bright minerality provides lift and silky tannins add support. Takes a weighty turn on the finish, revealing port-like plum and boysenberry flavors and remarkable persistence. For all its concentration, there's superb balance, even freshness to this behemoth. Rated 95 Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar