Super Syrah Tasting at The Wine Watch

“I pray you, do not fall in love with me, for I am falser than vows made in wine.”
― William Shakespeare, As You Like It

Syrah or Shiraz is one of the few red grape varietals that can by itself be made into a world class wine that can be cellared for decades.  Although the names are not identical the grape varietal is the same.

There are many speculations as to the origin of this varietal but DNA profiling in 1999 found Syrah to be the offspring of two obscure grapes from southeastern France, Dureza and Mondeuse Blanche.  Syrah should not be confused with Petite Sirah, a synonym for Durif, a cross of Syrah with Peloursin dating from 1880.

Tonight we will do some experimenting with this varietal and study just how well Syrah from various places of origin ages.  Of course we have wines from The Rhone Valley, where the most famous examples from regions like Hermitage and Cote Rotie are the pinnacle of quality and age ability.  Then we have to include some Aussie wines, the land down under has also been into syrah for quite some time now they have been growing Shiraz in Australia for over 100 years.  And of course California, although they are the newcomers to the Syrah varietal, they are fast learners as California is producing some of the world's greatest examples of this dark skinned varietal.

Wine Watch Catering's Toni Lampasone will be making a few small courses to accompany the tasting wines.  The fee for this tasting is $95 + tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463.

Super Syrah Tasting at Wine Watch
Friday August 24th
7pm

Flight One

2003 Alban Reva Syrah

(98 Points)  The sensational 2003 Syrah Reva Vineyard may be the finest example of this cuvee Alban has yet produced. Nearly endless depth as well as an extraordinarily flamboyant bouquet of blackberries, truffles, acacia flowers, and sweet tar emerge from this broad, opulent, full-bodied, incredibly rich Syrah. It is a stunning wine to drink over the next 12-15 years.   Wine Advocate #166, Aug 2006

2003 Chave St Joseph Offerus

This is a negociant label at Chave and it is a great value but not at the same level of quality as their estate wine and is usually drinking nicely upon release.  It will be interesting to try an older vintage of this wine.

2004 Colgin Syrah IX Estate Napa

(96 Points) Intense and beefy, with pepper, sage and wild berry flavors that are hearty and rustic, yet enormously compelling and complex, with waves of flavor gushing across the palate. Drink now through 2014. 469 cases made. –JL wine Spectator Issue: Mar 31, 2007

Flight Two

1993 Chapoutier Hermitage Le Pavillon
Price: $230.00    Sale $202.40
Quantity in Stock: 5

(93 points) The 1993 Le Pavilion is the Hermitage of the Vintage. More austere than when I tasted it prior to bottling, it is one of the few 1993s with a sweet inner core of fruit, as well as a dense ruby/purple color, outstanding concentration and extract, and huge tannin in the finish. It is a harder style of Le Pavilion than the 1992, but it should turn out to be a 40- to 50-year wine. Last tasted 6/96. Rhone Book # B3Jan 1997

1995 Guigal Cote Rotie Chateau D'Ampuis 

(92 Points)  The 1995 Cote Rotie Chateau d'Ampuis, which is just being released to the marketplace, is a sensational offering. The bottled wine is even better than its individual component parts. It boasts a dense, saturated deep ruby color, as well as a flamboyant, intense bouquet of crushed pepper, Provencal herbs, black raspberry jam, and smoky sweet oak. The wine is medium to full-bodied, with good underlying acidity, but much more voluptuous and unctuous than it appeared to be from cask. Long, concentrated, and explosively rich, this wine may merit an even higher score after it has had some time to mesh together in bottle. It is a terrific Cote Rotie to drink over the next 10-15+ years.  Wine Advocate #121, Feb 1999

1995 Elderton Command Shiraz

(94 Points)  The opaque purple-colored 1995 Command Shiraz boasts huge toasty American oak aromas intermixed with thrilling levels of jammy black raspberry and berry fruit. The wine is explosively rich, with low acidity, and spectacular concentration and purity. Although not complex, it is mouth-filling, teeth-staining, and ostentatious. Drink it over the next 7-10+ years. I suspect This wine will become more civilized and less exuberant with bottle age. Elderton's wines are not for tasters seeking subtlety and elegance. This is an outrageously oaky, flamboyantly-styled offering with immense hedonistic appeal.  Wine Advocate #122, Apr 1999

1994 Georga's Paddock Shiraz Jasper Hill

(98 Points)  Deep garnet-brick in color, the 1994 Georgia's Paddock Shiraz offers a beautifully ripe, expressive prune, blueberry compote and mulberry nose with underlying notes of chocolate, sandalwood, anise, Indian spices and kirsch. Full bodied and opulent with a great balance of refreshing acidity and medium-high velvety tannins, the layers of savory and dried fruit flavors linger very long into the finish. It's drinking now though has plenty of life left and should continue to cellar to 2020+. eRobertParker.com #195, Jun 2011

Flight Three

1990 Ferraton Hermitage Cuvee des Miaux

(96 Points)  From what is unquestionably the greatest Hermitage vintage since 1961, this wine is black in color, with a huge, developing bouquet of jammy cassis, mineral, spicy, floral, and licorice scents. Massively endowed, with frightfully high levels of glycerin, extract, and tannin, this is an old-style, super concentrated, beautifully pure, well-delineated Hermitage. Wow! Anticipated maturity: 2005-2040. Last tasted 12/96. Rhone Book, Jan 1997

1989 Chapoutier Hermitage La Sizeranne

(90 Points)  The 1989 La Sizeranne was aged in 40% new oak casks and was produced from yields that did not exceed 30 hectoliters per hectare. It is an organically made, unfined, unfiltered wine that is drinking surprisingly well. The dark ruby/purple color exhibits no signs of age. The bouquet leaps from the glass, offering up aromas of cassis, minerals, smoky oak, and herbs. In the mouth, this rich, powerful, concentrated, superripe wine offers succulence and delineation. The tannins are noticeable, but ripe and unobtrusive. Anticipated maturity: now-2010. Last tasted 6/96.  Robert Parker Jr. Rhone Book, Jan 1997

1983 Guigal Cote Rotie Brune et Blond

(87 Points)  I preferred this wine during its first 10 years of life, as it has now lost some of its fat and succulence. Still a healthy dark ruby color, with only minor amber at the edge, the nose offers a spicy, earthy, sweet red-fruit character. It possesses the dry tannin that is found in so many wines of this vintage, but some fruit remains, as well as medium to full body, and a spicy, austere finish. Anticipated maturity: now-2004. Last tasted 12/93.   Robert Parker Jr. Rhone Book, Jan 1997

1989 Qupe Syrah

One of the top Syrah Minds in California Bob Lindquist is behind this wine and good friend of Jim Clendenon from Au Bon Climate these two share winery facilities and some wines from time to time.  I have not had this wine in years but I am excited about trying this vintage wine. 

Menu

Selection of Cheese:  Manchego, Cheddar and Reggiano Parmesan

Pulled Pork Panini with grilled peppers, onions and mushrooms

Reggiano Crusted Lamb shepherd's pie with roasted butternut squash

KILLER AGED Syrah and other Rhones wines in the store:

1989 Guigal Cote Rotie La Landonne
Price: $825.00    Sale $726
Quantity in Stock: 1

(98 Points) The 1989 single-vineyard Cote Roties are magnificent. Reminiscent of Guigal's 1985s and 1982s, the black/purple-colored La Landonne possesses fabulous concentration, and a sweet, expansive personality. It has plenty of tannin, but there is so much fruit that the tannin is largely concealed. This is another mammoth-sized wine with extraordinary extract. Anticipated maturity: 1999-2020. Last tasted 7/96. Rhone Book, Jan 1997

1989 Chapoutier Hermitage Le Pavillon
Price: $637.50    Sale $561
Quantity in Stock: 4

(100 Points) The 1989 Le Pavilion is a prodigious wine. Made from yields of 14 hectoliters per hectare, this parcel of old vines (averaging 70-80 years of age) has produced an opaque black/purple-colored wine, with a hauntingly stunning bouquet of violets, cassis, minerals, and new oak. In the mouth, the similarity in texture, richness, and perfect balance to the compelling 1986 Mouton-Rothschild is striking, only this wine is richer and longer. This extraordinarily well-balanced wine will probably not be ready to drink for at least 5-10 years, but it will evolve for three decades or more. It is an enormous yet amazingly well-delineated wine. I lament the fact that there are only 600 cases of this magnificent wine. This great Hermitage was the first of a trilogy (1989, 1990, and 1991) of exquisite Le Pavillons. Last tasted 12/95. Rhone Book # B3, Jan 1997

1990 Jaboulet Hermitage La Chapelle Rhone Valley
Price: $695.00    Sale $611.60
Quantity in Stock: 2

(100 Points) The 1990 La Chapelle is the sexy and opulent. I had the 1990 at the Jaboulet tasting, and again out of a double magnum three months ago. On both occasions it was spectacular, clearly meriting a three-digit score. The modern day equivalent of the 1961, it deserves all the attention it has garnered.

The color remains an opaque purple, with only a slight pink at the edge. Spectacular aromatics offer up aromas of incense, smoke, blackberry fruit, cassis, barbecue spice, coffee, and a touch of chocolate. As it sits in the glass, additional nuances of pepper and grilled steak emerge. There is extraordinary freshness for such a mammoth wine in addition to abundant tannin, an amazing 60-second finish, and a level of glycerin and thick, fleshy texture that have to be tasted to be believed.

Despite its youthfulness, the 1990 La Chapelle is lovely to drink, although it will be even better with another 5-6 years of cellaring; it should age for 35-40+ years. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2050 Wine Advocate #129, Jun 2000

1996 Chapoutier Cote Rotie La Mordoree
Price: $140.00    Sale $123.20
Quantity in Stock: 3

(91 points) I was less impressed with the 1996 Cote Rotie La Mordoree from bottle than I was from cask. Michel Chapoutier still believes it is one of the finest examples he has produced, but agrees that the high acidity has left everything in the wine compressed. It is certainly an outstanding offering, but it will require 5-7 years of patience. Made from microscopic yields of 15 hectoliters per hectare, it exhibits a saturated purple color, and a reticent but promising nose of toasty new oak, cassis, black olives, and smoked game. In the mouth, the wine is medium to full-bodied and dense, but the high acidity and compressed, tightly-knit style make it difficult to penetrate. The finish is long, but the wine is backward and unyielding. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2025. Importer: Paterno Imports, Lake Bluff, IL; tel. (847) 604-8900 Wine Advocate #121, Feb 1999

1996 Chapoutier Hermitage Le Pavillon
Price: $230.00    Sale $202.40
Quantity in Stock: 2

(96 points) The 1996 Hermitage Le Pavillon needs at least a decade of cellaring. The wine possesses a saturated black/purple color, in addition to fabulously sweet aromas of blackberries, framboise, blueberries, violets, roasted herbs, and meats. Massively concentrated and full-bodied, with staggering levels of extract, this wine is super pure, with high tannin, good but not intrusive acidity, and a 45-second finish. This is one of the superstars of the vintage in France! Anticipated maturity: 2010-2050. Importer: Paterno Imports, Lake Bluff, IL; tel. (847) 604-8900 Wine Advocate #121, Feb 1999

2000 Guigal Cote Rotie Chateau D'Ampuis
Price: $159.75    Sale: $140.58
Quantity in Stock: 2

(89 Points)  The dark ruby/plum-tinged 2000 Cote Rotie Chateau d’Ampuis, which spends 30 months in oak, is good, but not nearly as perfumed, deep, or impressive as the 1999, 2001, and 2003. It offers aromas and flavors of sweet cassis intermixed with hints of frying lard and dried herbs intertwined with supple tannin. Although superficial, it is a seductive, rich, concentrated effort. Wine Advocate #156, Dec 2004

2001 Guigal Cote Rotie Brune et Blonde
Price: $70.00       Sale $61.60
Quantity in Stock: 1

2003 Jaboulet Hermitage La Chapelle Rhone Valley
Price: $184.50    Sale $162.36
Quantity in Stock: 3

2003 Guigal Cote Rotie Brune et Blonde
Price: $77.50       Sale $68.20
Quantity in Stock: 2

2005 Chapoutier Cote Rotie La Mordoree
Price: $145.00    Sale $127.60
Quantity in Stock: 2

(94+ Points) There are 577 cases of the 2005 Cote Rotie La Mordoree. This deep ruby/purple wine exhibits loads of tannin, bits of bacon fat, cassis, and a steely personality with superb depth, but an abundance of structure and tannin, and also displays tobacco leaf and a hint of fig. It will require 5-8 years of cellaring and drink well for 20-25 years. Wine Advocate # 175, Feb 2008

2005 Guigal Hermitage Ex-Voto
Price: $415.00    Sale $365.20
Quantity in Stock: 3

(95-98) Made in a completely different style, the colossal 2005 Hermitage Ex-Voto is pure power, muscle, and concentration. Its inky/purple color is accompanied by an extraordinary, precise nose of creme de cassis, smoke, charcoal, incense, and spring flowers. Full-bodied with outrageous concentration, good acidity, noble sweet tannin, and a 60-second finish, this wine requires 5-6 more years of bottle age, and should drink well for 30-50 years.

2006 Guigal St. Joseph Lieu Dit
Price: $55.00       Sale $48.40
Quantity in Stock: 1

(90 Points) The outstanding 2006 St.-Joseph exhibits aromas of black currants, crushed rocks, spring flowers, camphor, and licorice. Elegant, with substantial flavor depth, this dark ruby/purple-tinged, pure, concentrated 2006 should evolve for a decade. Wine Advocate # 182, Apr 2009

2006 Guigal Hermitage Ex-Voto Blanc
Price: $221.00    Sale $194.48
Quantity in Stock: 3

(91-95 Points) The 2006 Hermitage Ex-Voto blanc is a powerful, aromatic wine offering notes of crushed rocks, quince, orange marmalade, white peaches, and honeysuckle with spicy oak in the background. This dense, unctuously-textured offering is a promising white Hermitage that should drink well for three decades. Wine Advocate # 182, April 2009

2006 Guigal Saint Joseph Vignes de Hospice
Price: $117.00    Sale $102.96
Quantity in Stock: 2

(92-94 Points) A sensational effort, the inky/ruby/purple-tinged 2006 St.-Joseph Vignes de l’Hospice exhibits aromas of graphite, black currants, raspberries, Asian spice, and incense. A wine of superb richness, full-bodied power, and structured yet sweet, noble tannins, it should evolve for 15 or more years.

While the entire world of wine knows how profound Guigal’s red wines are, they may not know that he continues to demonstrate a complete mastery of white wine varietals, from his lowly Cotes du Rhone blend of Roussanne, Marsanne, Viognier, Clairette, and Bourboulenc, to his seriously-endowed dry whites from the northern Rhone. Over recent years, Guigal has been attempting to produce an interesting, fairly-priced, delicious Crozes-Hermitage. (The overall level of quality from this complex appellation is less than exciting.) Guigal is becoming one of the most important producers of high quality St.-Joseph. He fashions three cuvees, a general appellation offering, his St.-Joseph Lieu-Dit St.-Joseph, and the limited production Vignes de l’Hospice, which comes from high elevation, steeply terraced vines planted at the top of the small mountain that dominates the town of Tournon. Along with Chapoutier’s St.-Joseph Les Granits, Guigal’s Vignes de l’Hospice is one of the most profound wines of the appellation. It comes from a 5.5 acre parcel at the top of the small mountain that dominates the town of Tournon. The soils are decomposed granite with essentially the same soil base as the great vineyard of Hermitage across the river known as Les Bessards. One can argue that by producing the Cote Rotie Chateau d’Ampuis, Guigal is pulling some high quality material away from his Brune et Blonde, and it seems to me that only in the greatest vintages is the Brune et Blonde as consistent as it was in the past. That said, the Chateau d’Ampuis is superb. This cuvee comes from some of the top vineyards planted on the steep hillsides of Cote Rotie, such as Le Clos, La Grande Plantee, La Pommiere, Pavillon Rouge, Le Moulin, and Guigal’s most recent purchase, La Viria, which I suspect will become another single vineyard Cote Rotie in a few years. There are around 2,000 cases of this cuvee, and it is aged 30 or more months in 100% new oak. Guigal’s single vineyard Cote Roties are other-worldly in nearly every vintage. I have given these offerings more perfect scores than any other wines in the world. They represent three completely different expressions of Cote Rotie, and are made in limited quantities. There are about 1,000 cases of La Landonne, and 500-600 cases each of La Mouline and La Turque. La Mouline, which includes the highest percentage of co-fermented Viognier (11%), is always the more delicate, voluptuous wine with the most complex aromatics. La Turque is a denser, more gamy, meaty effort with approximately 7% Viognier co-fermented. It comes across as a completely different style of wine. La Landonne, which is grown in pure schist on the steep hillsides of the northern-most sector of the appellation, is 100% Syrah. It is the densest, most concentrated, masculine, and tannic of these three cuvees. Regardless of the vintage’s style and personality, La Mouline will always be the most flattering to drink young, followed by La Turque, and lastly by La Landonne. All three of these offerings are aged for a remarkably long, 42 month period in 100% new oak barrels (but they are never oaky), and are bottled unfined and unfiltered. They typically have 30+ years of longevity in top vintages. In short, they are singular expressions of greatness from spectacular vineyards that are brought to fruition with non-interventionalistic, creative yet distinctive winemaking. A re-visit to the 2004s has proven that Guigal’s long barrel aging can produce wines that are often better out of bottle than they were early in cask, a common occurrence at Guigal.

2008 Delas Cote Rotie Seigneur de Maugiron
Price: $72.00       Sale $63.36
Quantity in Stock: 2