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: Closed; Minerals, earth? HINTS of spice?
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 fairly elegant tangy/swtness to the few, relatively innocuous, very, VERY fine tannins. For now & through '22, poss longer. 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 . [While this vendor's $29.95 is *very* COMPETITIVE, wine-searcher's NOW shows a source even $10 < ! (Apparently a SoCA distributor is *desperately* trying to move this!)]
Note: Also tasted on 3/2, 8/3, & 9/21/19, with fairly similar TNs.
Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
100% Shiraz from "up & coming Shiraz vyds" of Barossa's Marananga, Greenock, Seppeltsfield, Gomersal, Moppa, Lyndoch, & Ebenezer sub-regions; Aged "12 mos in well-seasoned FR oak hogsheads & foudre barrels;" 15% ABV, 5.84g/L T.A., & 3.60 pH; 7,000 cases made, 3,500 cases imported.
N: RIPE, poss JAMMY berries with HINTS of pyrazines?
P: LM body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by a SMIDGIN of astringent pucker which QUITE works itself out by the LONG, TANGY/swt (60:40) finish to the relatively few, firming, dusty tannins. My VG+/EXC-, certainly the higher if QPR is considered. 93 pts ea Suckling & WS ("Smart Buy"); [This vendor's $17.95 puts it @ the top of wine-searcher's listings.]
Note: Perhaps I was rushing a bit, but today I did not find this AS "swt" as when I tasted it on 5/25, 6/1, & 8/31/19.
USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County
1,500 cased produced;
N: CLOSED; HINTS of RIPE berries, poss pyrazines?
P: LM body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by an astringent pucker which stays in contact with the init frt as it PRETTY much works itself out by the LONG, balanced finish with a tangy/swtness to the firming, dusty tannins. Approachable now with food, this DESERVES 12-18 mos, then drinking through '24. My EXC-/EXC; 94-96 pts Vinous (Galloni) & 92-94 WA. [Check with this vendor if interested in their very COMPETITIVE price.]
"100% Syrah grapes are sourced from a single vyd in the Bottelary Hills ward of Stellenbosch, located 16 mi from the ocean @ 348 ft elev. Vines ave 25 yrs of age, & the rows are planted NE to SW. The soil is a granite-based 'duplex' form which consists of coarse sand on gravel with a small percentage of wet clay.
"The grapes were de-stemmed & the whole berries were pumped into an open top s/s fermenter, with 5% whole bunches added to the ferment. The tank was inoculated with Enoferm Syrah, a Rhône isolated yeast strain. Punch downs were performed 3x/day during fermentation. The wine was left on its skins for an additional 5 days of extended maceration before pressing. It was then racked to barrel for malolactic fermentation. The wine was aged for 18 mos in 225 L FR oak barrels (10% new, balance 2nd & 3rd fill)." 14.78% ABV, 2.8 g/l R.S., 5.0 g/l T.A., & 3.62 pH; 1,200 cases made.
N: CLOSED; HINTS of RIPE berries, poss pyrazines?
P: Med, poss LM, body; Rndish entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by an astringent pucker which somewhat resolves by the LONG, balanced finish with a tangy/swtness & a very, VERY slight bitterness to the very, VERY fine tannins. NEEDS through '20, then approaching its 10th? My VG+; 91 pts ea WS & ("Very Good+) kenswineguide.com , 90+ Vinous (Tanzer), 90 WA (Martin), and WE @ $30! [Though beatable by $2, this vendor's $25.95 IS competitive.]
Note: This didn't impress me as much as it had on 6/8/2019.
Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
"92% Shiraz, 5% Mataro, & 3% Merlot from a vyd with a predominately eastern exposure. Soil varies from sandy loam at the top of the hill to heavier loam & clay as it transcends down the hill towards the creek. The dry climate forces the vine roots, ranging from 10–20 yrs, to delve into the complex underlying geology consisting of quartz & ironstone gravels, weathered & calcareous sandstone, and siltstone & limestone. "Fruit was harvested from 2/17-3/8/16. It was immediately crushed, destemmed, & hand-plunged, utilizing open top fermentation. Following 9-12 days on skins, traditional basket pressing in our 1928 basket press was employed. The wine then matured in a combination of AM, FR, & Eastern European oak barrels for 13 mos. 14.2% ABV, 2.5 g/l R.S., 6.9 g/l T.A., & 3.60 pH;" 4,490 cases made.
N: Slightly closed; RIPE, poss jammy berries
P: LM body; RNDISH entry with NICE, almost swtish frt met by an astringent pucker which stays within hailing distance of the init frt as it quite resolves by the LONG, balanced, potentially elegant, tangy/swtness to the few, firming, dusty tannins. NEEDS 12-18 mos, then drinking for 3 yrs more min. My EXC-/EXC; 94 pts & Special Value Star from James Halliday Wine Companion, 92 WS, & 91 ea The Wine Front (Gary Walsh) & WA. [This vendor's $28.95 is now ≈$8 < wine-searcher's lower of 2 entries.]
Note: First tasted on 12/29/18 when I didn't perceive quite as much structure as I did today & on 8/24/19.
Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
78% Shiraz & 22% Grenache; "Exceptional old vine fruit was sourced from the famed Ebenezer sub district at the N tip of the Barossa Valley. Vine age 50—80 yr old Shiraz & 50—110 yr old Grenache. Yield 3.5 tons/ha; Oak contact minimised for the Grenache; The Shiraz was matured for 16 mos in 2-3 yr old oak hogshead barrels (80% FR, 20% AM)." 14.5% ABV, 3.0 g/l R.S., 6.02 g/l, & 3.53 pH;
N: Closed; RIPE berries with notes of minerals; Intensity lurking?
P: LM body; RNDISH entry with very NICE, almost swtish frt met by an astringent pucker which pretty much works itself out by the LONG, balanced finish with an attractive, tangy/swtness to the firming, dusty tannins. NEEDS 12-18 mos, then drinking for 3-4 yrs more. My EXC-, poss more for QPR? [This vendor's $19.95 sits atop wine-searcher's somewhat skewed listing.] 92 pts Anthony Gismondi (CN), 91 ea Suckling & WA (Czerwinski), 90 Huon Hooke, & 17/20 Jancis Robinson.
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: Closed; Minerals, earth? HINTS of spice?
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 fairly elegant tangy/swtness to the few, relatively innocuous, very, VERY fine tannins. For now & through '22, poss longer. 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 . [While this vendor's $29.95 is *very* COMPETITIVE, wine-searcher's NOW shows a source even $10 < ! (Apparently a SoCA distributor is *desperately* trying to move this!)]
Note: Also tasted on 3/2, 8/3, & 9/21/19, with fairly similar TNs.
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2017 Torbreck Woodcutter's Shiraz
Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
100% Shiraz from "up & coming Shiraz vyds" of Barossa's Marananga, Greenock, Seppeltsfield, Gomersal, Moppa, Lyndoch, & Ebenezer sub-regions; Aged "12 mos in well-seasoned FR oak hogsheads & foudre barrels;" 15% ABV, 5.84g/L T.A., & 3.60 pH; 7,000 cases made, 3,500 cases imported.
N: RIPE, poss JAMMY berries with HINTS of pyrazines?
P: LM body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by a SMIDGIN of astringent pucker which QUITE works itself out by the LONG, TANGY/swt (60:40) finish to the relatively few, firming, dusty tannins. My VG+/EXC-, certainly the higher if QPR is considered. 93 pts ea Suckling & WS ("Smart Buy"); [This vendor's $17.95 puts it @ the top of wine-searcher's listings.]
Note: Perhaps I was rushing a bit, but today I did not find this AS "swt" as when I tasted it on 5/25, 6/1, & 8/31/19.
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2018 Tensley Syrah Colson Canyon Vineyard
USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County
1,500 cased produced;
N: CLOSED; HINTS of RIPE berries, poss pyrazines?
P: LM body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by an astringent pucker which stays in contact with the init frt as it PRETTY much works itself out by the LONG, balanced finish with a tangy/swtness to the firming, dusty tannins. Approachable now with food, this DESERVES 12-18 mos, then drinking through '24. My EXC-/EXC; 94-96 pts Vinous (Galloni) & 92-94 WA. [Check with this vendor if interested in their very COMPETITIVE price.]
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2015 Rudi Schultz Syrah
South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch
"100% Syrah grapes are sourced from a single vyd in the Bottelary Hills ward of Stellenbosch, located 16 mi from the ocean @ 348 ft elev. Vines ave 25 yrs of age, & the rows are planted NE to SW. The soil is a granite-based 'duplex' form which consists of coarse sand on gravel with a small percentage of wet clay.
"The grapes were de-stemmed & the whole berries were pumped into an open top s/s fermenter, with 5% whole bunches added to the ferment. The tank was inoculated with Enoferm Syrah, a Rhône isolated yeast strain. Punch downs were performed 3x/day during fermentation. The wine was left on its skins for an additional 5 days of extended maceration before pressing. It was then racked to barrel for malolactic fermentation. The wine was aged for 18 mos in 225 L FR oak barrels (10% new, balance 2nd & 3rd fill)." 14.78% ABV, 2.8 g/l R.S., 5.0 g/l T.A., & 3.62 pH; 1,200 cases made.
N: CLOSED; HINTS of RIPE berries, poss pyrazines?
P: Med, poss LM, body; Rndish entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by an astringent pucker which somewhat resolves by the LONG, balanced finish with a tangy/swtness & a very, VERY slight bitterness to the very, VERY fine tannins. NEEDS through '20, then approaching its 10th? My VG+; 91 pts ea WS & ("Very Good+) kenswineguide.com , 90+ Vinous (Tanzer), 90 WA (Martin), and WE @ $30! [Though beatable by $2, this vendor's $25.95 IS competitive.]
Note: This didn't impress me as much as it had on 6/8/2019.
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2016 Kay Brothers Shiraz Basket Pressed Amery Vineyards
Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
"92% Shiraz, 5% Mataro, & 3% Merlot from a vyd with a predominately eastern exposure. Soil varies from sandy loam at the top of the hill to heavier loam & clay as it transcends down the hill towards the creek. The dry climate forces the vine roots, ranging from 10–20 yrs, to delve into the complex underlying geology consisting of quartz & ironstone gravels, weathered & calcareous sandstone, and siltstone & limestone.
"Fruit was harvested from 2/17-3/8/16. It was immediately crushed, destemmed, & hand-plunged, utilizing open top fermentation. Following 9-12 days on skins, traditional basket pressing in our 1928 basket press was employed. The wine then matured in a combination of AM, FR, & Eastern European oak barrels for 13 mos. 14.2% ABV, 2.5 g/l R.S., 6.9 g/l T.A., & 3.60 pH;" 4,490 cases made.
N: Slightly closed; RIPE, poss jammy berries
P: LM body; RNDISH entry with NICE, almost swtish frt met by an astringent pucker which stays within hailing distance of the init frt as it quite resolves by the LONG, balanced, potentially elegant, tangy/swtness to the few, firming, dusty tannins. NEEDS 12-18 mos, then drinking for 3 yrs more min. My EXC-/EXC; 94 pts & Special Value Star from James Halliday Wine Companion, 92 WS, & 91 ea The Wine Front (Gary Walsh) & WA. [This vendor's $28.95 is now ≈$8 < wine-searcher's lower of 2 entries.]
Note: First tasted on 12/29/18 when I didn't perceive quite as much structure as I did today & on 8/24/19.
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2016 Glaetzer Shiraz Grenache Wallace
Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
78% Shiraz & 22% Grenache; "Exceptional old vine fruit was sourced from the famed Ebenezer sub district at the N tip of the Barossa Valley. Vine age 50—80 yr old Shiraz & 50—110 yr old Grenache. Yield 3.5 tons/ha; Oak contact minimised for the Grenache; The Shiraz was matured for 16 mos in 2-3 yr old oak hogshead barrels (80% FR, 20% AM)." 14.5% ABV, 3.0 g/l R.S., 6.02 g/l, & 3.53 pH;
N: Closed; RIPE berries with notes of minerals; Intensity lurking?
P: LM body; RNDISH entry with very NICE, almost swtish frt met by an astringent pucker which pretty much works itself out by the LONG, balanced finish with an attractive, tangy/swtness to the firming, dusty tannins. NEEDS 12-18 mos, then drinking for 3-4 yrs more. My EXC-, poss more for QPR? [This vendor's $19.95 sits atop wine-searcher's somewhat skewed listing.] 92 pts Anthony Gismondi (CN), 91 ea Suckling & WA (Czerwinski), 90 Huon Hooke, & 17/20 Jancis Robinson.
Note: 1st tasted on 6/5/19
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