2020 Kobayashi Winery Syrah Sans Soufre WeatherEye Vineyard

Community Tasting Notes (7) Avg Score: 93 points

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  1/26/2024 - ylkim30 Likes this wine:

  January 2024 Northern Rhone Dinner: A Syrah varietal wine sourced from the Columbia Valley in Washington State. Darker in character than the ‘11 Benetiere, it shared a fresh-tasting vibrancy and textural delicacy on the palate. While it had the smoke, meat, and herbs of the Northern Rhone, that Old World savoriness was married with a restrained, yet luminescent fruit that clearly placed it in the New. Although this cuvee is meant to be held for no longer than 10 years, the intensity of flavor feels a little too serious to be simply glou-glou, despite its easy-going drinkability. I never heard of this producer before, but I’m looking forward to following them in the future. (Apparently, Yves Gangloff consults on the Syrah and Viognier wines produced by Kobayashi).

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  6/7/2023 - Shay.Aldriedge Likes this wine: 94 Points

  What a crazy wine. I had the pleasure of meeting Travis (a second time) in Seattle while I was traveling, and popped an Egly Ouriet Les Crayeres while we talked all things Kobayashi. He told me this 2020 was drinking great, so I had to see for myself.
  
  Sans Soufre. Travis recommended an hour decant. He was spot on. After an hour, this came alive! So perfumed. Intoxicating aromatics. Deeply floral and bright fruit all over. Blue fruit, spiced pepper. Great weight to it. Very “pure”. It straddles Barossa Valley’s SamiOdi with the aromatics (rich and decadent black/blue/purple fruits) and channels more Cornas type of a vibe with its charcoal/savory mid palate.
  
  Drank half from the decanter over two hours, then I corked it and had the second half the following day and it held strong/just as enjoyable.

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  2/4/2023 - Eric wrote: 96 Points

  Simply unreal. Nervous, powerful, pure, almost feral, primal and intense. Smoke and blood, floral and pepper, just incredible. Bravo Travis, this is a stunning and remarkable expression of Syrah!

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  10/14/2022 - BradA Likes this wine: 93 Points

  Tasted at McCarthy and schiering
  
  Love the purity. Wines without sulphur just emerged as a more intriguing wine. Would really love to have this and cellar it for 3-5 years. My remarks to Travis today was exactly that . I purchased both his cab and Syrah and intend to let the, develop. The raw energy needs time. I’m a fan!

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  6/17/2022 - Eric wrote: 93 Points

  Holy guacamole. This is intense stuff. Young, pure, structured, grapey and just VIVID. Super deep purple. The structure and purity are off the charts, unnerving really. I have only had a tiny handful of sans soufre wines in my life, and if this is a typical example it is deeply intriguing. Wow, wow, wow, crushed rocks, white pepper, searing acidity, deep Syrah. Loving this. This a wine of raw ebullience with some knees and elbows, not about suave polish, just raw energy. Wonderful stuff!

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