Syrah Tasting

My place
Tasted Sunday, August 29, 2010 by patrickt with 538 views

Introduction

Dan, Matt, Vytauras, Dhiraj, Ranjit, and myself gathered for a tasting of Syrah from around the world and at multiple price points. The three blinded wines were the 2003 E. Guigal Cote-Rotie from France, 2007 Juno Syrah from South Africa, 2001 Arrowood Syrah from Russian River Valley in California; and the unblinded offerings were 2008 Layer Cake Syrah from Australia, 2006 Ramey Syrah from Shanel Valley in California, and the 2008 Mollydooker Boxer from Australia.

Flight 1 (6 Notes)

  • 2007 Juno Wine Company Shiraz Cape Maidens 86 Points

    South Africa, Western Cape

    Clear ruby red with fresh aroma and taste of black and blue berries but not jammy. Moderate alcohol, moderate acidity, moderate tannin, and moderate finish. excellent QPR.

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  • 2001 Arrowood Syrah Saralee's Vineyard 89 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    Clear, garnet, with a predominate gamey aroma and flavor, typical syrah, a bit flabby, very soothing tannin, and the aroma also had a overripe floral quality. possibly even tobacco.

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  • 2003 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie Brune et Blonde 95 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

    (from dkoontz) Garnet color. Nose of wild blueberry and mild smoked meat. Palate with more wild blueberry and black currant giving way to game and then reappearing. Medium finish. Nice acidity and dry tannins suggest this has some life left in it but great now. (I will add the most complex and satisfying wine in aroma and taste overall for the evening.

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  • 2008 Mollydooker Shiraz The Boxer 84 Points

    Australia, South Australia

    A clear, inky purple wine with a hot jammy nose, moderate tannin, and long finish. Heavy on the black fruit. We agreed it should be drunk without comparing it with others, as it seems much to "clunky" and not well put together.

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  • 2008 Layer Cake Shiraz 86 Points

    Australia, South Australia

    Big, bold, and jammy. All black fruit and no game, with a mild peppery aroma. EtOH shows.

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  • 2006 Ramey Syrah Shanel Vineyard 95 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

    Clear, between dark ruby and violet, full complex aroma, best of the night, with blueberries, black raspberries, game, hint of pepper and leather. The finish was not as long as it should have been, the tannin were slightly excessive but smooth, and acid level was perfect. I think it needs a few more years of cellaring.

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Closing

The classic French Syrah from Cote-Rotie was the winner with an average score of 95.3 And the Ramey close behind with a score of 94.7

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