Syrah Blinds (Leon, Tim, and Friends)
The Palace Steakhouse, SF
Tasted December 2, 2015 by RajivAyyangar with 341 views
Introduction
Leon, Tim, Gence +1
AMUSE
Lettuce, Jamon
OYSTERS
Caviar
GRILLED PRAWNS
Mizuna greens, pepper sauce, mushrooms
QUAIL
Truffle Risotto
(This smelled like India - the stairway of my uncle's home in Madras, in the summer)
PORK THREE WAYS
Prosciutto, Pork Loin, Chorizo
STEAK
Potato, Yucca, Spinach, Sweet Breads
DULCE DE LECHE SOUFFLE
DdL Ice Cream, Kiwi
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My Calls:
Called: 2012 Hermitage, high quality (~$100)
Actual: 2013 Sonoma Coast, (~$80)Arnot-Roberts QSS: one of the coolest Syrah vineyards in CA.
- A decent call given the herbaceousness and style of the QSS. In hindsight there's a purity/matte quality to the fruit character that might give it away as a New World wine.
Called: 2001 Cote Rotie, top-quality (~$100)
Actual: 2000 Cornas allemand , Chaillot (~$100)
- This was in the right wheelhouse - more refined than I'd expect from Cornas, but then again, I haven't tasted many.
Called: 2008 California Sonoma Coast Syrah, ~$60
actual: 2008 Sonoma Coast. Wind Gap, 12.1% Alc.
- Seems about right for the style. My alcohol call was way high though.
Called: 2007 Cornas, ~$50
Actual: 2006 Cote-Rotie, Jasmin
- Well, I seem to have flipped Cote-Rotie and Cornas! Maybe I should pay more attention to tannin texture.
Called: 2010 Sonoma Coast Syrah
Actual: 2005 Sonoma Coast, Peay, La Bruma
- I missed some signs of age - this seemed youthful!
Called: 1995 Hermitage
Actual: 1997 Santa Cruz Mtns, Kathryn Kennedy, Maridon Vineyard
- This was a stupid call. Alcohol was way too high, and Brett shouldn't have discounted California. My vintage was in the right range, though.
Flight 1 - First Pair (2 notes)
Reminds me of Modesto somehow. Green peppercorns, green stems, green olive. Cracked black pepper, dried roses, juniper, Christmas trees, rosemary.
Beautiful, tensile, and fresh in the mouth - more stemmy, green peppercorn, strong acidity, white pepper, tightly-wound blackberry.
Moderate intensity, lightly chewy tannins.
Especially in the context of this lineup of balanced Syrahs, this was lovely! Refreshingly herbaceous, cooling and earthy and reedy/stemmy.
Score: Between 9 and 9.5
Guess: 2012 Hermitage, high quality (~$100)
Actually: 2013 Arnot-Roberts QSS: one of the coolest Syrah vineyards in CA.
Some whole cluster. SO GOOD.
13%!
Pleasant earthy stink - turned earth.
Age is at least 15 years. It shows some fine mushroomy secondaries, and slight brett - faint barnyard and earth.
Subdued black pepper. Softened acid on the palate, integrated and wonderful.
Gorgeous - garrigue. Blackberry and cranberry.
Polished and velvety tannins.
Score: Around 9.5
2001 Cote Rotie, top-quality (~$100)
2000 Cornas Allemand, Chaillot
13.5% Alc
This was my favorite of the night. The texture and structure disappear and you are left with a sensation of effortless aromatic complexity. It's in a wonderful place right now.
Flight 2 - Second Pair (2 notes)
Slight stemmy character. Slightly softer acid on the palate. Rich.
Alcohol is elevated, around 14% (12.1% apparently! It's not holding it well.)
Possibilities:
Australia - not hot enough.
California - it would be a cooler climate.
Some development, based on the slightly faded, secondary character.
called: 2008 California Sonoma Coast Syrah, ~$60
actual: 2008 Sonoma Coast. Wind Gap, 12.1% Alc.
Structurally, this sees classic of Northern Rhone, maybe on the softer side.
Some age, but not much.
13.5% Alcohol.
Based on the rusticity of this (the dirtiness), I'm guessing this is:
2007 Cornas, ~$50
Actually: Jasmin, Cote-Rotie, 2006
no stems, lots of big neutral barrels, some viognier
He racks his wine many times, so gets a lot of exposure to air. They have a faded character.
I'm not a fan.
Score: 8-8.5
Flight 3 - Third Pair (3 notes)
On the palate, ripe, lush, moderate alcohol ~13.5%? (actually 13.8%) A bit grapey. Strong acidity.
I don't smell any significant signs of age.
Guessed: 2010 Sonoma Coast Syrah
Actually: 2005 Sonoma Coast, Peay
Score: around 8.5-9.
Nose: showing dried roses, tamari, dog fur, dried cherry. Slight sandalwood. This is gorgeous.
Supple and generous on the palate. ~14% alcohol.
I love this. 9-9.5
I don't know where to place this. It's ripe and intense, like a Musar almost, but it's got clear brett and great acidity, suggesting maybe not California.
Despite the power and alcohol, I'm guessing 1995 Hermitage.
1997 Kathryn Kennedy, Santa Cruz Mtns Syrah.