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MNB: Stem Inclusion
Tasted October 2, 2017 by RajivAyyangar with 284 views
Flight 1 (5 notes)
Red
2015 Arnot-Roberts Syrah
88 points
100% whole cluster. Neutral oak.
Medium ruby, slight tinge of magenta.
Aromatic - slight black pepper, ripe blackberry, savory moist earth, leaves and green tea - possibly from stem inclusion (100% whole bunch ferment). There's also a hint of slightly confected cherry - just a slight hit of carbonic.
Dry, medium body, medium alcohol - feels 13% (12.5%), elevated acid, elevated tannins - a bit stalky and bitter, but in-balance. Long finish with savory forest floor, green tea, and blackberry.
If I were to taste it blind, it's a clean-style, unoaked, medium-alcohol syrah with whole cluster, both carbonic and stem inclusion. You might guess cool-climate CA, OR, WA, or NZ. The acid isn't high enough for NZ. Not sure how you'd go CA vs. OR/WA.
Medium ruby, slight tinge of magenta.
Aromatic - slight black pepper, ripe blackberry, savory moist earth, leaves and green tea - possibly from stem inclusion (100% whole bunch ferment). There's also a hint of slightly confected cherry - just a slight hit of carbonic.
Dry, medium body, medium alcohol - feels 13% (12.5%), elevated acid, elevated tannins - a bit stalky and bitter, but in-balance. Long finish with savory forest floor, green tea, and blackberry.
If I were to taste it blind, it's a clean-style, unoaked, medium-alcohol syrah with whole cluster, both carbonic and stem inclusion. You might guess cool-climate CA, OR, WA, or NZ. The acid isn't high enough for NZ. Not sure how you'd go CA vs. OR/WA.
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Red
2013 Failla Syrah Hudson Vineyard
87 points
(blind)
Slightly cloudy, medium plus ruby to a crimson rim.
Elevated intensity aromatics with a prominent smoked ham (reductive) element and earthy blackberry liqueur. Faint black pepper. Dustiness to the nose - possibly a longer maceration? Peach and tart underripe cherry.
Dry, full-bodied, high alcohol - 14%, elevated acid, elevated tannins - papery and bitter. Modest impression of sandalwood and nutmeg on the palate - consistent with 50% new French oak.
Lack of herbaceous character suggests no whole cluster/stem inclusion. Destemmed.
Oaked syrah - New World:
- Oregon
- Paso
- Cornas - would be unlikely to have oak
Based on the ripeness being on the low end between these two, and the good acid, I believe this is an Oregon Syrah, 2012, $30-40
88
Actually Failla
33% new french oak.
14.1%
100% whole cluster.
Slightly cloudy, medium plus ruby to a crimson rim.
Elevated intensity aromatics with a prominent smoked ham (reductive) element and earthy blackberry liqueur. Faint black pepper. Dustiness to the nose - possibly a longer maceration? Peach and tart underripe cherry.
Dry, full-bodied, high alcohol - 14%, elevated acid, elevated tannins - papery and bitter. Modest impression of sandalwood and nutmeg on the palate - consistent with 50% new French oak.
Lack of herbaceous character suggests no whole cluster/stem inclusion. Destemmed.
Oaked syrah - New World:
- Oregon
- Paso
- Cornas - would be unlikely to have oak
Based on the ripeness being on the low end between these two, and the good acid, I believe this is an Oregon Syrah, 2012, $30-40
88
Actually Failla
33% new french oak.
14.1%
100% whole cluster.
Red
2013 Trinity Hill Syrah Gimblett Gravels
88 points
(blind)
Medium plus ruby color.
Highly aromatic nose of screaming saline white pepper rotundone, a sort of pine-y/rosemary-like green basil-like herbaceous note (stem inclusion), blueberry, slight salami (reductive meat), and just a hint of blackberry. Earth-driven nose.
On the palate, dry, medium body, 13.5% alcohol (actually 13), high acid, medium tannins (papery). No new oak aromas, but some rounding/slight oxidation and integration consistent with time in neutral oak.
Based on the strong herbaceous notes (on par with what I recall from Graillot), this is consistent with 100% stem inclusion.
2014 Crozes-Hermitage, Graillot or similar producer. Very nice.
13% alcohol
25% whole cluster
A little new oak. 10-20%.
Medium plus ruby color.
Highly aromatic nose of screaming saline white pepper rotundone, a sort of pine-y/rosemary-like green basil-like herbaceous note (stem inclusion), blueberry, slight salami (reductive meat), and just a hint of blackberry. Earth-driven nose.
On the palate, dry, medium body, 13.5% alcohol (actually 13), high acid, medium tannins (papery). No new oak aromas, but some rounding/slight oxidation and integration consistent with time in neutral oak.
Based on the strong herbaceous notes (on par with what I recall from Graillot), this is consistent with 100% stem inclusion.
2014 Crozes-Hermitage, Graillot or similar producer. Very nice.
13% alcohol
25% whole cluster
A little new oak. 10-20%.
Red
2015 Alain Graillot Crozes-Hermitage
88 points
(blind)
Opaque ruby to a magenta rim - vibrant color.
Elevated intensity, savory nose, with sweet blackberry jam, slight black pepper, slight charred ham, and just a hint of dog fur - brett. No notable stemmy influence or herbaceousness.
On the palate, dry, medium plus body, 13.5% alcohol, high acid, medium tannins - a bit papery. Medium plus finish of mostly blackberry and earth.
The aromatics are consistent with all neutral oak and no stem inclusion or carbonic.
Given the 13.5% alcohol and slight brett, I believe this is a Syrah from the Northern Rhone. On the spectrum of St. Joseph - Crozes-Hermitage - Hermitage - Cornas, this is on the riper, warmer-climate side. Aromatics are consistent with 100% syrah (no viognier).
I believe this is a 2014 Cornas, $50
Actually: 2015 Graillot Crozes-Hermitage - makes sense that I found this riper since it's 2015.
Opaque ruby to a magenta rim - vibrant color.
Elevated intensity, savory nose, with sweet blackberry jam, slight black pepper, slight charred ham, and just a hint of dog fur - brett. No notable stemmy influence or herbaceousness.
On the palate, dry, medium plus body, 13.5% alcohol, high acid, medium tannins - a bit papery. Medium plus finish of mostly blackberry and earth.
The aromatics are consistent with all neutral oak and no stem inclusion or carbonic.
Given the 13.5% alcohol and slight brett, I believe this is a Syrah from the Northern Rhone. On the spectrum of St. Joseph - Crozes-Hermitage - Hermitage - Cornas, this is on the riper, warmer-climate side. Aromatics are consistent with 100% syrah (no viognier).
I believe this is a 2014 Cornas, $50
Actually: 2015 Graillot Crozes-Hermitage - makes sense that I found this riper since it's 2015.
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Red
2013 Mossik Cellars Cabernet Franc White Rock Vineyards
95 points
Medium ruby color.
Delightful integration of clovey-nutmeggy brett with savory blackberry fruit. Slight ripe bell peppers. Blackberry liqueur with a wash of fresh roses, and an intense dose of sunshine. Singing out of the bottle.
Medium bodied, feels 13% alcohol, has a blackberry and herbal-floral finish with stunning high acid and medium plus satiny tannins. Just a shock of a finish. So long and high acid. The most serious and extracted of the three. Beautiful and will go the distance.
An interplay of beautiful cab franc fruit and earthy secondaries.
Delightful integration of clovey-nutmeggy brett with savory blackberry fruit. Slight ripe bell peppers. Blackberry liqueur with a wash of fresh roses, and an intense dose of sunshine. Singing out of the bottle.
Medium bodied, feels 13% alcohol, has a blackberry and herbal-floral finish with stunning high acid and medium plus satiny tannins. Just a shock of a finish. So long and high acid. The most serious and extracted of the three. Beautiful and will go the distance.
An interplay of beautiful cab franc fruit and earthy secondaries.