Syrahs: 2 FR (Delas) & 4 CA

• 2015 Delas Frères Crozes-Hermitage Le Clos

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Crozes-Hermitage

  100% Syrah (planted 1980s, including some from the 1950s) from a single plot planted in alluvial soils on Les Saviaux in the S part of La Roche-de-Glun; "'Le Clos' grapes are harvested manually at optimum maturity. Fermentation is carried out in the traditional way in open-topped concrete tanks, following a 2 day period of skin contact @ low temp. Fermentation follows at controlled temps from 82°F-86°F. Daily cap pushing down & pumping over is kept up for about 10 days, with a total maceration period up to 20 days. After devatting & pressing, malolactic fermentation is carried out in oak barrels. Maturation lasts for 14-16 mos in oak barrels which have already held wine for 1-3 yrs. These are regularly topped up." 50 cases imported to the U.S.
  
  N: RIPE plums with notes of minerals? Tough to parse
  
  P: LM body; NICE, almost swtish frt met by an astringent pucker which transitions into a LONG finish with a tangy/swtness to the firming, dusty tannins. Deserves through '20, but would work now with food, then drinking through '23, POSS longer? 14% ABV; My VG+/EXC-, which, based upon the "Pros" & others so far here, could WELL be on the low side. 94 pts ea WA (Czerwinski), Dunnuck, WS, & Jeff Leve, 93 Vinous (Raynolds), 92 Suckling, 17/20 Jancis Robinson (Hemming), & 4*(*)/5 from casks] drinkrhone.com ! [This vendor's (closeout?) $35.95 is a STRIKING $17 < wine-searcher's only current entry!]

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• 2014 Delas Frères St. Joseph Cuvée Francois de Tournon

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, St. Joseph

  Frt from Mauves, Tournon, St Jeran-de-Muzols, & Vion; 70% aged in s/s vats, 30% in 1-2-3 yr 228-litre oak casks;
  
  N: Slightly closed; Forest floor with notes of blk cherries
  
  P: LM body; NICE, almost swtish frt met by an astringent pucker which DOES quite resolve by the LONG, BALANCED finish with a tangy/swtness to the few, remaining dusty tannins. For now & through '21; My EXC-. 91-93 pts Vinous (Raynolds), 91 ea WA & WS, 90 & Silver @ '17 Decanter World Wine Awards, 16.5/20 Bettane et Desseauve, 14.5/20 La Revue du Vin de France, Bronze @ '17 Int'l Wine Challenge, and 3*/5 (casks/vat) drinkrhone.com . [This vendor's $29.95 is NOW an *impressive* $15 < wine-searcher's next lowest!]

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• 2016 Arnot-Roberts Syrah Clary Ranch

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  Should you be interested, I’ve uploaded info for this vintage which you can peruse at your leisure. 😉
  
  N: Slightly closed; Blk cherries, poss plums
  
  P: LM body; Rndish entry with nice frt fairly quickly met by an astringent pucker which fairly seamlessly transitions into a LONG, very, VERY slightly puckerish yet beautifully BALANCED finish with hints of swtness to come. NEEDS through '21, guessing, to unwind & show its potential to be unlike perhaps ANY other CA Syrah. 12% ABV; My EXC/EXC+, but likely NOT a style many (MOST?) would find appealing. [Check with this vendor if interested in their very COMPETITIVE price.]

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• 2017 Tensley Syrah Colson Canyon Vineyard

  USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County

  "This is the 2nd vintage of Colson Canyon Syrah that we’ve produced since purchasing the vyd in 2016. Since taking over Colson, we’ve dedicated ourselves to meticulously farming this unique location. We’ve thinned the canopy, dropped crop, & carefully monitored watering. As a result, we feel that 2016 & 2017 have been the best Colson vintages to date. 20% new FR oak;" 1,950 cases produced.
  
  N: CLOSED, got literally... nothing
  
  P: LM body; Rndish entry with NICE, almost swtish frt met by an astringent pucker which QUITE resolves by the LONG, balanced finish with a tangy/swtness to the few, firming, very, VERY fine tannins. For now & through '21, poss longer. 15% ABV; My EXC-/EXC. 95 pts WS, 93 & "Very Highly Rec" CA Grapevine (4/'19), 92-95 Jeb Dunnuck, and 91-93 WA (Kelley). [Check with this vendor if interested in their COMPETITIVE price.]
  
  Note: Also tasted on 1/26, 3/23, & 6/29/19

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• 2017 Ex Post Facto Syrah

  USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County

  A Greg Brewer project: "Coldest climate; 60 days on the skins & stems; Most exhausted cooperage;"
  
  N: CLOSED, but notes of ripe berries?
  
  P: LM body; Rndish entry with NICE, almost swtish frt met by an astringent pucker which, while staying within hailing distance of the init frt, transitions into a LONG, balanced finish with an attractive tangy/swtness to the dusty tannins. For me this was MUCH like a more structured version of Tensley's Colson, NEEDING through '20, then drinking for 3-4 yrs more. VERY nicely done! My EXC-/EXC, arguably the higher for QPR/ageworthiness. [Check with this vendor re their pricing, for which I could find no other current source for the '17.]

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• 2017 Pax Syrah North Coast

  USA, California, North Coast

  "Here is a wine that comes along only every so often. Driven by Mother Nature rather than market forces, this 100% Syrah is a blend of all of our favorite vyds. Just because they are our favorites doesn’t mean that they don’t disappoint in some years. 2017 was one of those years that made it very difficult for us to carry out our desire to bottle these vyds on their own as vyd designated wines. So for 2017 you get all the great terroirs blended together to make one very compelling & over delivering bottle of Syrah."
  
  100% whole cluster Syrah from the Castelli-Knight Ranch, Griffins Lair, Armagh, Nellessen, Majik, Hawks Butte, & Alder Springs Vyds; Aged in concrete & neutral FR oak barrels; Bottled without any fining or filtration. [Also, all of their wines are crushed by foot & hand, & fermented using only natural yeasts.] 12.6% ABV & 3.8 pH; Sold out @ the winery
  
  N: CLOSED; Earth slightly atop ripe berries?
  
  P: LM body; NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by an astringent pucker which somewhat resolves by the LONG, balanced finish with an almost elegant TANGY/swtness to the dusty tannins. NEEDS through '20, poss '21, then drinking for 4 yrs more? Impressive stuff! My EXC; 92 pts Vinous (Galloni). [Check with this vendor if interested in their very COMPETITIVE price.]

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1st, *nothing* "jammy" in this flight, which certainly CAN be a problem when talking CA Syrahs. 2nd, 5/6 I would definitely classify as "cool climate" Syrahs, maybe even 6/6 since the Tensley Colson now at least seems HEADED in that direction. ¡GREAT selection, Vintage Wines! :)