Super Syrah Tasting at Wine Watch

“Wine is like people. The wine takes all the influences in life all around it, it absorbs them and it gets its personality."

French Kiss (1995) – Luc (Kevin Kline)

This tasting is part of the extensive research that we are doing here at the Wine Watch.  Tonight we are testing older vintages of Syrah/Shiraz to see just how they are drinking today to let you, our Wine Drinking People, know just when is the right time to drink your finest Shiraz based wines.

Syrah or Shiraz is one of the few red grape varietals that can by itself be made into a world class wine capable of being 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. This is a sit down pre-poured event and is limited to 14 tasters, the fee for this tasting is $195 + tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463.

Super Syrah/Shiraz tasting at Wine Watch
Wednesday, August 17th
7pm

1979 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage

We just picked this 1979 vintage of Chave Hermitage up in a big cellar so I thought we would just throw this in to our next tasting where it was appropriate and Super Syrah was next on the horizon so here it is!  You know you always get extra at a Wine Watch tasting and these wines are a minimum set that you will see there is always an opener and usually a closer in addition to the line-up listed here.
  
1988 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage
Price $595.00             Sale $523.60
(93 Points) Even more closed than the 1989 and 1990, this opaque, dark ruby/purple-colored wine reveals a tightly knit nose of cassis, minerals, and tar. Full-bodied, with superb concentration, the 1988 Chave Hermitage exhibits more astringent, tougher tannin than either the 1989 or 1990. While it appears more structured, it has nowhere near the weight and dazzling opulence of its two younger siblings. Nevertheless, this is a superb Hermitage. Anticipated maturity: 2000-2020. Last tasted 6/96. Rhone Book Jan 1997

1989 Penfolds Grange
(93 points)  A very hedonistic, almost decadent style of Grange, this blend of 91% Shiraz and 9% Cabernet Sauvignon from three grape sources - Kalimna in the Barossa, Penfolds' other sources in the Barossa, and McLaren Vale - is a gorgeously opulent, almost Pomerol-like Grange with an over-ripe characteristic to the fruit. Cherry liqueur intermixed with cranberry and cassis presented in a seductive, full-bodied, very soft, forward style is truly not the classic Grange in the sense of having huge structure and massive concentration, but this wine is loaded, very corpulent, and fleshy. The wine is going to last for up to two decades, but it will be uncommonly succulent and delicious to drink young, as it was several months ago. Among the young vintages of Grange, this is perhaps the most flattering wine that they have produced over the last 20 years, at least for such a relatively young wine. Anticipated maturity: now-2018.    eRobertParker.com     Feb 2002

1989 Guigal Cote Rotie La Landonne
(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

2007 Colgin IX Syrah Estate

(95 Points) There are 475 cases of the 2007 IX Syrah Estate, which offers up flowery, roasted meat, balsamic, tar, and blackberry characteristics in a full-bodied format. The wine reveals sweet tannin, and layers of fruit, including a note of lavender that emerges as the wine sits in the glass. It should drink well for a decade.   Wine Advocate #186, Dec 2009

2001 Fontodi Syrah Case Via Tuscany
Price: $86.00    Your Price: $75.68
(90 Points) The 2001 Case Via Syrah offers some peppery varietal aromas along with its plum and blackberry fruit, a broad, soft palate, and very good vigor and warmth. Drink: 2006-2016.   Wine Advocate #164 Apr 2006 Reviewer:Daniel Thomases

1998 Tenuta Il Bosco Syrah Tuscany
Price: $52.50    Your Price: $46.20
A very savory bouquet of dried herbs underbrush and some dried cherry and plum fruit.  A very savory style of Shiraz with dried herbs and typical Tuscan countryside underbrush  with a savory finish, lots of dried tobacco spice, paired very nicely with Toni's lasagna.  Finish 40+    Excellent

2012 Sine Qua Non Syrah Stock
Price: $395    Sale $299
(97-99 Points)   The Syrah releases started with the 2012 Syrah Stock. Coming mostly from the Eleven Confessions vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills, it also has portions from Cumulus, The Third Twin and White Hawk. Made from 84% Syrah, 7% Grenache, 6% Petite Sirah, 2% Viognier and the rest Mourvedre, it spent 20 months (it’s not yet bottled) in 52% new French oak. Showing the purity and suppleness of the vintage, yet with no lack of concentration, depth or richness, it gives up fabulous cassis, black raspberry, smoked meats and violet-like aromas and flavors that continue to change in the glass. In short, it’s a rock-star Syrah that could come from nowhere else. It should be approachable on release and evolve gracefully for two decades or more.
These latest releases from Sine Qua Non and Next of Kyn are at the pinnacle of wine, and it’s simply impossible to taste through these and not be blown away. While I think the star of the show at the moment is the 2010 vintage, the 2011s aren’t far behind, and the 2012s should rival them as well. In addition, to give you an idea how these wines age, don’t miss the recent 2004 retrospective on these wines that was published at eRobertParker.com. We finished the tasting with Manfred’s Next of Kyn releases, and these are the strongest set of wines yet to come out under this label. The focus here is exclusively on his estate Cumulus Vineyard planted around the estate in Oakview.  eRobertParker.com #214, Aug 2014

Menu

Selection of Cheese" goat, Beemster Gouda and Fig Jam
Grilled Pepper stuffed with Wild Boar Ragout drizzled with Sage infused olive oil
Beef Short Rib Shepards Pie with wild Mushrooms, golden Beets and savory wild herbs

The fee for this tasting is $195 + tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com.