2000 Melville Syrah High Density

Community Tasting Notes (1) Avg Score: 89 points

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  2/20/2010 - Todd French wrote: 89 Points

  This wine delivered an interesting experience. I had some fear that it was over the hill - just not made to age this long, as I had some 2000 and 2001 Estate Syrah from Melville that had completely lost its fruit. This one, when first opened, showed some similar qualities, but the nose still had a very strong dose of fruit, sweet, dark and red fruits, ripe, but in a mature, not overly sweet way. The palate was shut down, bitter, with the fruit fading immediately. I figured I'd give it some time, just in case, as the nose seemed to hint that something might be there, but I can't recall experiencing a wine where the palate (in terms of the fruit/flavor) came back after seeming dead or gone. I've had it where a wine is closed up and the fruit emerges after some oxygenation, but never this way. However, after about 30-45 minutes, the fruit started to emerge. This wine is changing for the better. It's not shining or spectacular, by any measure, but the fruit is coming through - dark plum, some kirsch, and the pepper and cured meats are carrying through as well, now joined by the previously absent fruit.
  
  The finish is surprisingly long, however, given the lack of midpalate. After being opened just a few minutes, the finish was non-existent. It's just a bit fascinating to me that this wine has sort of come back from the dead.

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