EWG goes blind for Syrah

For our latest edition we bagged up bottles of Syrah and got together at Elements Ktichen in Pasadena. The theme was only 100% Syrah, blind. Arnie and Lisa worked out a fantastic menu with the chef at elements who executed in terrific fashion. Our meal was truly excellent.

The wines were pretty good also. Nothing rocked my world but I can say I liked almost half of them petty well even with the varied styles. We did not conduct any voting and the wines were revealed after each flight. I marked in the positive the 06 Copain, Saxum Booker, 05 Alesia, 06 Cabot, 02 Ojai Melville, 99 Chave and the 06 Stonecroft. I admired the Astralis and was very surprised by its origin but the fruit was a bit too ripe for me to strongly take to it. There was also a badly corked Mitolo briefly appearing in flight #4.

As for the food there was an amuse to start off the meal that I forget the particulars of. Here is the rest:
1st Course - Bleu cheese panna cotta, baby arugula, candied pecans
2nd Course - Farro & caramelized onion risotto, nicoise olives, tomato confit, summer vegetables
3rd Course - Crispy duck confit, braised lentils, mirepoix, bacon, balsamic reduction
4th Course - Roasted rack of lamb, curried hummus, warm eggplant and chickpea salad, pomegranate molasses, rosemary parsley pesto
Dessert - Chocolate blackout cake, chocolate mousse, raspberry coulis, almond tuile

• 1995 Clarendon Hills Astralis

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, Clarendon

  Served blind. Fascinating wine. Seemed very elegant French in style but the fruit was very ripe. Notes of iron and an herbal note, almost like an Alban with very ripe, nearly raisined fruit. Lengthy palate with a lean feel, pleasing tannin. Almost reserved and a bit rough at the finish but it was very nice overall. My best guess was maybe an Hermitage from a hot year though I've never run across a wine in that style with fruit as ripe as this one.

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• 2005 Copain Syrah James Berry Vineyard

  USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

  Served blind. Dark fruited nose with roasted meat and rocky notes. Some noticeable heat. Light in character and on the hollow side as in not much on the mid-palate. Tannin and heat are ample. Guessed Central Coast.

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• 2007 Copain Syrah James Berry Vineyard

  USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

  Served blind. Fruity nose with notes of sweet flowers. Very tight with a rough middle and very drying tannin. This needs extended air or more rest.

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• 2006 Copain Syrah James Berry Vineyard

  USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

  Served blind. Darkly fruited with notes of tar. Mostly reserved and there was a touch of heat. The palate is pretty displaying nice balance including good acid and tannin. A touch of heat is the only reservation but I liked this one.

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• 2006 Lillian Winery Syrah

  USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County

  Served blind. Dense nose with reduction, wet rocks and heat. Mostly tight with rich, dense fruit showing a note of tar. Not interesting or tasty. Just dense and dark.

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• 2003 Scali Syrah

  South Africa, Coastal Region, Paarl, Voor Paardeberg

  Served blind. Shows very ripe on the nose though somewhat reserved, dense and hot. Light in character, juicy and rough with some heat. Not quite as bad as it might sound but overall it reminded me of a low end $10 bottle.

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• 2006 Saxum Booker Vineyard

  USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

  Served blind. The nose is reserved showing a bit of baked fruit and some heat. Rich yet with a light palate feel. Pretty and a bit sweet. I liked it for a bigger styled wine.

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• 2005 Rhys Alesia Syrah Fairview Ranch

  USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands

  Served blind. Decanted about 3 hours prior to consumption. Strong pepper and tar notes initially with the fruit opening up in the glass. Balanced palate showing a clean acidic finish. Herbs giving the impression of stem inclusion. I liked this as well as I have remembered liking it.

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• 2006 Cabot Vineyards Syrah Kimberly's

  USA, California, North Coast, Humboldt County

  Served blind. Decanted about 3 hours prior to consumption. Charred meat and roasted pork on the nose. BBQ meats and raspberries on the palate showing a lean feel with a nice dose of tannin. Had some people at the table guessing N Rhone. This is always a winner for me.

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• 2008 Stolpman Syrah Hilltops High Density

  USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Ynez Valley

  Served blind. Very ripe fruited showing a hint of VA and plenty of heat. Juicy but hollow, soft but with strong tannin. Very grapey. Guessed something from Paso. Not one of my better Stolpman experiences.

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• 2002 Ojai Syrah Melville Vineyard

  USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills

  Served blind. Herbs on the nose with an almost Alban like character. Big fruited and fleshy but drifts into a light finish. Probably a bit tight in expression and there is some heat around the edges. Very nice.

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• 2002 Ojai Syrah Thompson Vineyard

  USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County

  Served blind. Sweet, candy like nose. Dense chewy palate that falls off very strongly leaving it very clipped. What a huge contrast from the Melville.

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• 1999 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

  Served blind. Iron and minerals on the nose but there is also some plastic like funk. Showing an aged character on the palate and very prominent acidity. The palate won me over but the funk on the nose was something I didn't see on this when I had it a week ago. I wonder if this bottle was a bit advanced.

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• 2006 Stonecroft Syrah Hawke's Bay

  New Zealand, North Island, Hawke's Bay

  Served blind. Very peppery nose. Clean and juicy with a lot of tannin. Light in character yet ample. Would probably have guessed Grenache if it wasn't Syrah night. A nice surprise.

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• 1996 Domaine Pichot Vouvray Moelleux Domaine Le Peu de la Moriette

  France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray

  Fat pie like nose. Clean and tart palate. There is a strong waxy note on the nose and palate.

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