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 do 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 wines.

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. This is a sit down pre-poured event and is limited to 15 tasters, the fee for this tasting is $95 + tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463.

Super Syrah Tasting at Wine WatchFriday, August 23, 20137:00 PM

Tasting Line-UP:

1998 Tenimenti Luigi d'Alessandro Tenuta Il Bosco Syrah Tuscany  Price: $52.50

One of the top Syrah's made in Italy this wine is now at the peak of maturity.  Il Bosco (bottled the first time in 1992) is produced with 100% Syrah grapes, selected from the best parts of our hillside vineyards (280/300 meters a.s.l.) planted between 1988 and 1995, at high density (about 7,000 vines per hectare).  Production per hectare is around 50 quintals of grapes with a corresponding yield of roughly 800 grams per plant.  This low yield per plant, obtained also through green harvesting (grapes thinning out) carried out at the end of July, together with perfect ripeness of the grapes, results in a highly concentrated wine with elegant and velvety tannins, sweet fruity tones and peppery spicy notes.

1999 Domaine Serene Rockblock Shiraz Oregon  Price: $46.00

Domaine Serene's Rockblock Syrah highlights the best fruit from their two vineyard sites in the Walla Walla region of Oregon. This full bodied wine is rich with blue fruit and rustic tannins leading to a smooth, lingering finish. The aromas boast dried blueberries, cedar, lavender, smoke and cocoa powder.

1996 M. Chapoutier Hermitage Monier de la Sizeranne Price: $120.00

(90 Points) The 1996 Hermitage La Sizeranne exhibits a saturated dense purple color, a classic, smoky, cassis-scented nose, and fresh acidity nicely meshed with the wine's rich, concentrated black fruit character and high tannin. This full-bodied, muscular, backward La Sizeranne requires patience. It is aged all in cask, of which 50% were new. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2020. Wine Advocate #121, Feb 1999

1998 Kay Brothers Shiraz Block 6 McLaren Vale Price: $95.00       Your Price: $83.60 Quantity in Stock: 12

(98 Points) I have to wonder if this wine would not be even more extraordinary and close to perfection if it were aged in French oak. American oak is still the big deal in Australia, despite the exceptional success the more subtle French oak has had nearby at Clarendon Hills. The 1998 shows the aggressive toasty oak in the nose, but there is no doubt that is going to be completely absorbed in another 3-5 years of cellaring, given the wine's mammoth concentration and extravagant richness. The wine has a black/purple color and an extraordinarily sweet nose of black fruits intermixed with spice box, licorice, and a touch of pepper. A monster wine on the palate, and still uncivilized and too young to actually enjoy drinking, this wine should be at its peak by 2006 and keep for up to 2020 or so. A great vintage for Block 6 Shiraz. eRobertParker.com # E2002, Feb 2002

2002 Bowen Estate Shiraz Coonawarra  Price: $31.25

This is an outstanding vintage for Australia so we are showing you three wines from different appellations to showcase the difference that the dirt makes.  We begin our tour of Australia in Coonawarra with a small family owned winery that has 40 years of grape growing experience.

2002 Hobbs Shiraz Barossa Price: $97.50

(92 Points) Produced from 100-year-old vines cropped at 3.75 tons of fruit per acre, the 2002 Shiraz possesses a modest (by Barossa standards) 13.3% alcohol. This full-bodied, layered, massive Shiraz boasts huge concentration as well as an inky/graphite-like character interwoven with smoky blackberry and cassis fruit. Still backward and primary, this rich 2002 requires another 1-2 years of bottle age. It should drink well for 15 years. Wine Advocate # 161, Oct 2005

2002 Clarendon Hills Syrah Liandra  McLaren Vale Price: $66.50

(93 Points) The beautiful 2002 Syrah Liandra Vineyard exhibits aromas of pepper, black fruits, acacia flowers, and subtle new oak. Full-bodied with an expansive mid-palate in addition to a gorgeously long finish, it is an elegant yet well-endowed Syrah to drink over the next 10-15 years. Roman Bratasiuk is one of Planet Earth’s greatest winemakers, and obviously a top-notch viticulturist given his obsession with sourcing extraordinary fruit from ancient McLaren Vale vineyards.  Wine Advocate #155, Oct 2004

2003 August Clape Cornas Rhone  Price: $92.75

(93 Points) The inky/blue/purple-tinged 2003 Cornas has shut down since bottling, revealing tightly wound blueberry, blackberry, scorched earth, and smoky notes, stunning density, atypically crisp acidity, and a huge, full-bodied, powerful finish. This should be a fabulous Cornas, but it is not as showy and flamboyant in its youth as I expected. Give it 3-5 years of bottle age; it should keep for 15 years. Wine Advocate #163, Feb 2006

Menu

Selection of Cheese

Goat cheese and heirloom tomato short stack with aged balsamic and bacon croutons

Toni's homemade Wild Mushroom Lasagna

What I Drank Yesterday: Emiliana Organic Vineyards

Organic is more than just a buzz word in the wine business today.  This is how most of the world's great producers grow their grapes and it is not to make their wine more marketable or more appealing to some of you tree huggers, it is because this is the best thing for the vineyard.  In order to keep the vines happy and healthy to ensure a long lifespan and to make better wines the world’s top vineyard managers have figured out that it is best NOT to douse them with poisons.

Emilian is all estate fruit and is a all organic, they are related to Concha Y Toro winery, but totally independent.  This project is about wines with a clear sense of place.

2012 Emiliana Novas Sauvignon Blanc Gran Reserva San Antonio              Price: $15.00

Very tropical bouquet with kiwi and passion fruit, notes of peppercini spice and briny mineral highlights.  A bit oily on the palate, wines from the San Antonio appellation have more viscosity than Casablanca.  A very savory style of Sauvignon blanc fresh with white grapefruit citrus, gooseberry kind of a cross between New Zealand and California, has that banana pepper spice, and a light briny note to the finish.  Finish 40+        Very Good         

2010 Emiliana Novas Pinot Noir Casablanca         Price: $18.00

A mix of Dijon 777 and Conch Y Toro Clone, 100% steel fermentation, and then aged in a mix of first, second and third year barrels, has a bit of that Chilean herbaciousness, dark raspberry fruit and a slight smoky character to the nose exotic dark spices, located in the most eastern part of the valley, higher altitude so a bit cooler climate.  A smooth and silky wine on the palate with a nice hand of spice and dark raspberry fruit through the finish.  Finish 35+   Very Good         

2009 Emiliana Novas Cabernet Sauvignon Valle Del Maipo          Price: $18.00

Located in Los Morros next to Santa Rita, 15 minutes from Almaviva (Don Melchor) their vineyard was planted with the same plant material.  There is 12% Merlot in the blend, fresh plowed earth, the wine was steel fermented on native yeasts first, second and third year barrels, has dark currant and plum fruit with fine herbs and some dark earth, mocha.  A savory style of Cabernet Sauvignon with dark currant berry fruit and lovely freshness to the light finish, notes of tobacco spice.  35+         Very Good         

2009 Emiliana Coyam Colchagua Valley Price: $39.75

A blend of 41% Syrah, 29% Carmenere, 20% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Mourvedre and 1% Petite Verdot.  The best grapes from each harvest, always Syrah Carmenere with a bit of that Chilean herbaciousness with fresh earth and dark currant and plum fruit with notes of toasty oak, mocha, dark chocolate very complex bouquet.  A big and chewy wine on the palate, smooth and round tannins with a host of spices tobacco and fresh earth with mocha and herbs, very complex and nuanced.  Finish 45+              Excellent +         

2009 Emiliana Ge Colchagua       Price: $96.00

From the Las Robles estate the barrel selection of Coyam, a blend of 40% Syrah, 30% Carmenere and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon.  This was a very good vintage a bit or rain at harvest but they picked a bit early so a bit more classic in style, dark spices to the black currant and dark plum fruit with black earth espresso and cigar box spice with only a note of that Chilean herbaciousness.  Very intense and concentrated on the palate with a lot of everything this wine has fine tannins and a very long fresh finish echoing the nuance from the nose through the finish.  Finish 50+            Most Excellent

What I Drank Yesterday: Laroche Wines

This is one of the great Domaines of Chablis and they have branched out into the South of France to produce some fighting varietals that are priced for everyday drinking.  It is hard to find squeaky clean varietal wines in this price point and these wines are just that, bottled in screw cap to maintain their freshness as everything at this winery has been under stelvin for a decade.  This was the first property in Burgundy to see the value of this enclosure and we applaud them for that.  I have a pile of returned wines here at the store and every one of them is a cork finished bottle.  The screwcap enables the producer to make a much more consistent product and this is one of the most important things in any business- consistency.  The cork has a 3-5% failure ratio and this is unacceptable to me as a merchant.  I would buy a wine in Screwcap as opposed to a cork finished product if that was the only difference between two different products.

The Domaine wines from Laroche's vineyards in Chablis are stunning especially the Grand cru wines, they are just now beginning to show their stuff and will be around for a few decades if you have proper storage.  I recommend holding on to these for 3-5 years for further development, they were still outstanding after 3 days in the glass!

2011 Laroche Sauvignon Blanc de la Chevaliere Pays D'Oc            Price: $11.25

The oak industry is down 20% due to people like this, 100% Sauvignon blanc, no malo with white grapefruit, lime citrus with green herbs peppercorn notes.  A very fresh and bright wine with a slight musky note to the finish.  Finish 35+  Good    

2011 Laroche Chardonnay de la Chevaliere Pays D'Oc Price: $11.25                 Same style here all the wines are organic now they will be certified with the 2012 vintage.  Very light green apple and lemon citrus fruit and wet stones, some fresh gravel/mineral notes.   A good amount of fruit with apple and lemon citrus with a short but pleasant finish.  Finish 25+          Good    

2011 Laroche Pinot Noir de la Chevaliere Pays D'Oc Price: $13.50                 A light and fruity style of Pinot Noir with pretty raspberry and strawberry fruit with a touch of earth.  Light and smooth tannins on the palate with light berry fruit and a short but pleasant finish.  Finish 25+      Good    

2011 Laroche Cabernet Sauvignon de la Cheveliere Pays D'oc    Price: $11.25

100% varietal, made the same way as the other wines.  A slight vegetal note to the red currant berry fruit and some notes of fresh earth bell pepper and herbs.  Some dark peppery spice notes to the currant and plum fruit on the tongue, silky smooth tannins.  Finish 30+         Good    

2011 Laroche Bourgogne Chardonnay     Price: $18

From the maconaise and this is made from purchased fruit, no oak here as well, everything bottled in screw cap in this portfolio, a good amount of lemon citrus and green apple fruit with notes of wet stone and white flowers.  A very juicy wine with lots of forward fruit and a very balanced approach very short but pleasant finish.  Finish 30+   Good +

2011 Laroche Petit Chablis           Price: $20.25

Not kimmeridgian limestone but Portlandian soils is the difference between Chablis and Petit Chablis and of course a marginal price difference.  Light aromas of lime citrus and stone like minerality to the nose very light with a light green peppercorn like quality.  A very bright and fresh wine with green apple and lemon citrus fruit along with a slight briny note to the finish, a bit tart on the second day.  Finish 30+       Good +

2011 Domaine Laroche Chablis Saint Martin        Price: $21.50

This is a single vineyard, a few thousand cases produced here this is a classic Chablis with hints of that sea shell, kimmeridgian limestone with lemon citrus and green apple like fruit.  Bright lemon citrus white flowers and with a tangy finish laced with tongue tingly minerality. A very good example of a village Chablis with a longer finish and more complexity than most.  Finish 35+    Very Good +     

2009 Domaine Laroche Chablis Grand Cru Les Blanchots                Price: $96.75

There are only 4 owners of Blanchots, wonderful concentration and richness with a pretty lemon drop candy fruit that is pure with lots of that classic Chablis minerality to the bouquet, white flowers and that crushed sea shell aroma.   Very rich and decadent on the tongue with a smooth creamy texture and a long layered finish.  Finish 45+              Most Excellent

2009 Domaine Laroche Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos           Price: $130.50

A strong mineral note to the bouquet here that permeated the lemon and green apple fruit on the nose, pretty white flowers, lovely concentration and depth of flavors.  Very rich and layered on the tongue with lots of fruit to the finish very ripe and round, a lovely creamy texture with that briny sea floor line minerality rounding out the finish, very long and complex.  Finish 50+       Most Excellent +             

2009 Domaine Laroche Chablis Reserve de l"obedience Les Blanchots Grand Cru             Price: $166.50

Named after the monks missionary the reserve de la obedience, where they have their cellars and this is a selection of the finest parcels of this vineyard.  Wow! wonderful concentration and richness here on the nose with lemon citrus with notes of honey and vanilla bean spice along with a strong hand of minerality/sea shell, classic Grand cru Chablis.  Wow this is awesome stuff, incredible richness with wonderful fat ripe round fruit and an incredible length on the finish.  Finish 50+                KILLER