2021 Montes Alpha Syrah

Community Tasting Note

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90 Points

Wednesday, May 10, 2023 - Day 1 - The wine has a dark inky beet color with some transparency at the hue. On the nose, it displays intense notes of violet, rose, dark plum, dark cherry, and cacao. In the mouth, it showcases high acidity and medium-high ripe tannins with a velvety texture, accompanied by a touch of stemminess. It is pure and fruit-forward, with an almost yogurt-like concentrated thick bite, but there is a slight prune/licorice bitterness in the aftertaste. The finish is medium in length but intense, with hints of berry-scented chocolate. Overall, it reminds of Chilean Pinot, California Zin, and Southern Rhone Syrah (added together and divided by 2, not 3). It is an excellent wine overall, but I deduct one point for the bitterness. It paired well with Kibbeh, but I would prefer to pair it with bitter vegetables such as Aralia Sprout Tenpura, Kakiage, or South Asian spiced veggie fritters, rather than meat. Rating: 89-90.

Day 5-6 - The wine has gained layers of vanilla, black truffles, wood, and cigar, while maintaining its intense violet and plum aromas. The overall impression now resembles good Southern Rhone villages wines (e.g., Cairanne by Alary, etc.). Surprisingly, it exhibits a rustic quality in a positive way for a large producer. The nose remains excellent, but there is a tingling harsh edge in the mouth. It might benefit from a reduction in SO2 or could be cellared for another 5 years. Rating: 90.

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