Tag Archives: syrah

Clarendon Hills Piggott Range Syrah 2006, McLaren Vale, Australia

30 Friday Jun 2017

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It was three years ago that I reviewed the 2006 Piggott Range Syrah from Clarendon Hills.  I was blown away and am continuing to enjoy their wines.  I bought a bunch of different wines from the winery and have been watching their evolution for some time now.

This time around this wine still shows a nearly inky black color, with no signs of aging.  On the nose I get -“Oh my”.  Seriously, my first whiff was heavenly.  Thick plums, blackberry syrup and a touch of oak.  It’s making my mouth water before I have even tasted it.

On the first taste- super smooth introduction to some delightful plums, cassis and blackberry pie.  This wine is powerful, yet not jammy.  I have always said that Clarendon Hills does Aussie wines in a French style, hence the name Syrah versus  Shiraz on the label.  The latter from Downunda usually indicates a big jammy thing.  The Syrah style is more elegant, less in your face, but they can still be powerful wines- like this one.   The extraction is near perfect here with lots of fruit, but not overly done.  The mid palate is more cassis but with a touch of enticing heat popping up.  The finish is a continuation of the black fruits with a touch of tannins.  This wine is 11 years young and shows no sign of letting up.  The transformation has begun and there are tertiary flavors starting to evolve.  This wine has the backbone and structure to last a fair while, probably till 2030 in my mind.  I’m serving it up with Filet Mignons and grilled leeks plus a creamed Kale dish.  It would certainly rock a leg of lamb grilled to a pink center with a charred edge.  I think this wine has improved and I am giving it 95 points, my previous tasting being so different!  The pros range this one from 92-98, an amazing score.  It’s currently running $150, which is an astronomical price, but it is a holiday weekend and I am grilling Filets!  5 stars because this wine is just so awesome.  Salut….

Boekenhoutskloof Syrah 2010, Franschhoek Valley, South Africa

13 Saturday May 2017

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I just recently had a birthday, not quite the big one, but just shy.  I had a few mates over for what turned out to be a large night.  We hit many regions and varietals, really hard.  Anyway, this was a gift from one of my South African friends, I did not drink it that night, saving it for a proper tasting night.  I’m glad I did!

A pretty purple color.  Gorgeous nose of blueberries, oak, plums and leather.  The initial taste consists of a very smooth dollop of blueberries, some fig paste and a dash of funky dryness that I can’t pinpoint.  Tannins are well integrated but there is a nagging bitterness that troubles me.  The midpalate has some very nice plums, a generous dose of acidity and some oak.  The wine finishes strong with a dusty component and more blue fruits.  This wine has a nice ‘spice meets leather and earth’ combo.  I’m digging it if not for that irksome bitterness at the front end, which drops the score to a 90.  The pros went high on this one, up to 94, but the consensus amongst the amateur crowd is in line with my rating.  This wine is pricy if bought in the US, $50+, but a very sexy and seductive version of Syrah that should be enjoyed with a nice Filet.  3 stars.  Salut….

Boekenhoutskloof Syrah, Franschhoek Valley, South Africa

Kestrel Vintners ‘Falcon Series’ Syrah 2011, Yakima Valley

16 Thursday Feb 2017

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Very dark purple in the glass. A nose of plum, blue berries and a funky earthiness. The initial taste is of plum sauce, black olive and acai berry. Really interesting. On the mid palate I am getting dark fruits and some fig. It’s not until the finish do I sense the dryness of tannins, with some very slight acidity. This is a tasty wine with good mouthfeel that is drinking well right now and may reward some short term cellaring. 89 points. $22 make this a 3 star wine in my books. Salut….

kestrel falcon series syrah

Trivento Amado Sur 2014, Mendoza Argentina

29 Sunday Jan 2017

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I am a big fan of Trivento, as can be seen in my write-ups.  The Amado Sur is a blend of Malbec, Bonarda and Syrah.

Dark purple in the glass.  A nose of black currants, oregano, chocolate powder.  On the palate- currant, cinnamon stick and crunchy tannins.  On the mid palate there are some plum notes as well the currants.  The tannins are really apparent in the finish, and give off a dry mouthfeel.  This wine is balanced and tasty, but perhaps young.  It will reward some cellaring but offers good flavors and structure right now to pair with prime rib, eggplant moussaka or even roast duck with orange sauce- or some cheese and chorizo like I did.  I like it and am going 90 points.  For $14, this is a really good deal.  4 stars.  Salut….

amado sur

 

Charles Smith Boom Boom Syrah 2013

05 Sunday Apr 2015

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If you have been following the last several posts you will know I went on a California adventure with my son.  Apart from the two wineries that we visited, I made sure I was stocked with wine for each evening.  I was super excited to find numerous different Charles Smith wines, of which we cannot seem to get on the East Coast.  This was actually the second bottle that I opened.  The first was a Charles and Charles Merlot, out by the hotel fire pit while my son was making s’mores.  I took no notes, just enjoying the moment of father/son time and relishing the fresh evening breeze of the Monterey Peninsula.  The  Boom Boom is a Syrah from Washington State with pretty purple hues and a nose of candies, plum and oak.  Whilst not my favorite profile it appeals to many so I will not let that detract from the score.  A gentle entry of plum sorbet and dark cherry with a touch of heat. It’s a very easy drinker with slight tannins and a hint of acidity. This is an everyday drinker that will please many when paired with burgers, beef brisket, even barbecued chicken with a tangy sauce. 88 points from me and therefore 3 stars for this $17 effort.  Salut….

charles smith boom boom syrah

The Boom Boom

Charles and Charles Merlot- not reviewed

Charles and Charles Merlot- not reviewed

The fire pit, just at the edge of the golf course

The fire pit, just at the edge of the golf course

Leviathan California Red Wine 2011

21 Sunday Dec 2014

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The pretty obscure label and name made me look this one up. 55% Syrah, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc- what a concoction.  Anyway, it can be had for $40 and was brought over by some friends.  Blackish purple shades in the glass promised structure and weight.  Plums, iodine and blackberry on the nose did not disappoint.  Fresh and slightly tannic entry of plums, blackberries, a touch of mint and eucalyptus made for a very interesting combo.  Well balanced with a decent finish had me grabbing for the bottle.  We drank it over cheese, olives and salami before going out to dinner.  It was perfect for the occasion but it would pair really well with Beef Stroganoff, Lamb shanks or even Osso Bucco.  91 points from me make this a 4 star wine and really well worth cellaring for a while.  2014-2020.  Salut….

leviathon red wine

Paul Jaboulet Aine Hermitage La Chapelle 1999

15 Monday Dec 2014

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An iconic wine from a crappy year.  Yup, I bought a wine that I knew was not very good.  The pro’s originally gave it high 80’s scores.  It was priced at $120 per but I picked up a case at $70 a bottle, probably because nobody was buying this vintage.  La Chapelle is a huge name in the wine world, some vintages are worth thousands, yes $1000’s of US dollars.  It is a world class Syrah, from the famed Hermitage appellation in the Rhone Valley. Buying this wine was a once in a lifetime look into something amazing, with a storied and solid history- albeit in a mediocre year.  I cellared the case for a decade before I tried the first bottle.  I was hugely disappointed, it was crap.  I couldn’t believe it, I had wasted nearly $850 on a whim.  I tried several bottles and gave one away.  The rest just sat there, forlorn in their OWC (Original Wood Case).  Until Thanksgiving, when I cellar-dove to pull out some gems for the holiday season.  I found the case of Hermitage and decided to empty it out and get ready to either drink or pour the last 5 bottles.

Glad I resisted the urge to dump, this wine has turned around and offers a modest drinking experience and may even be on an upswing.  Vintages of this wine have been known to age gracefully for nearly a century.  It is a huge wine.

Inky purple glass which is a good sign.  The bottle had large deposits of sediment on the sides but there were none in the glass.  Nose of garigue, violets, game and dark fruits.  Mellow and smooth opening with bright fruit flavors of ripe plum, blueberry and cassis, not what I was expecting considering my previous experiences with this wine.  An earthy component on the mid palate which melded well with some acidity. The tannins are fully integrated and this wine is at peak. 88/89 points were my initial and final impressions.  The pro’s have since upgraded their scores to reflect the wine’s true personality.  It is drinking at its best now and will go for another 5 years.  If you like finesse this is a wine for you, but at this price point I think there are far better wines to search out.  2 Stars unfortunately for this rather expensive yet average drinking wine.  Salut…

paul jaboulet aine hermitage la chapelle

Orin Swift D66 2011

18 Tuesday Nov 2014

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I have sampled Orin Swift’s The Prisoner and am familiar with their full on style.  Heady and high in alcohol with great extraction.  This wine is no different.  It all began with a rich dark purple hue in the glass.  Wild flowers, blackberries, earth and plum come across on the nose.  Violets and plums with layers of dark fruit compote and an earthy component attack the palate full bore.  I loved the very smooth mouthfeel that hides the whopping 15.2% alcohol.  Melded tannins and a balanced acidity contribute to the silkiness.  This wine is made from Grenache, Syrah and Carignan from the Catalan region.  Terroir of the French countryside is evident. Old world in fruit yet New world in extraction and style.  It finishes with a touch of cinnamon and blueberry pie. 2014-2020 would be my guess for a drinking window.  I give it 92 points and for $33 it deserves 5 stars.  Deeeelish.  Salut…..

orin swift d66

El Angosto Los Almendros 2009

08 Saturday Nov 2014

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I wasn’t sure what to expect out of this Spanish blend of Garnacha Tintorera, Syrah and Marselan but it sure looked good in the glass.  Oregano, violets and black fruits on the nose were intriguing.  Pepper, blackberry, tar and capsicum on the initial attack were delightful.  Pinpoint tannins and a nice balance of acidity gave this wine a rounded and smooth mouthfeel.  The tannins are long , tingling the gum for over a minute- surprising.  I drank it with smoked pork one night, but ended up drinking several more bottles of it this week with other dishes, all delightful pairings.  Focus on  juicy steak or hearty stews for the best results.  This is a really versatile and delicious wine with a drinking window of 2014-2019.  It gets 91 points from me and 4 stars with its $25 price point.  Salut….El Angosto Almendros Single Vineyard Tinto

Clarendon Hills Hickinbotham Syrah 2007

11 Friday Jul 2014

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I am tasting my way through the Clarendon Hills portfolio, and I’m loving it.  This particular Syrah was nearly black in the glass.  It opened with plums and blue berries on nose with some pencil lead hints.  My first impression was powerful and juicy with delightful tannins.  I noticed that the wine sports a 14.5% alcohol which is well hidden.  Chocolate and figs on the mid palate added to the complexity of the blue fruits.  The wine has a layered elegance and smoothness that is fabulous.  I like the way this winery makes Syrah style wines, very nice and atypical.  It later hit me that this wine is very plummy, probably explains the denseness and extraction.  I noted ‘Tight tannins that are well integrated.’  I would give this wine a span of 2014-2025 with evolution hopefully coming through with some secondary flavors evolving.  I got a good deal on this bottle but even at it’s SRP of $75 it is an excellent value for money if you have a big dinner planned, running at 93 points for me and 4 stars.  Ps. I served it with well seasoned Flank steaks but this Aussie wine was made for a leg of lamb, just my opinion.  Salut….

clarendon hills syrah hickinbotham