Black Hills Syrah Vertical - 2014 to 2019
Tasted December 29, 2021 by Vino Loco with 90 views
Introduction
I was interested to see how time was treating the Black Hills Syrah. I was finding myself less interested in this wine in recent years, and was keen to see if the wine has changed or if my tastes have changed.
Flight 1 (6 notes)
Medium bodied. Pepper notes. The wine tasted soft with lower residual alcohol than the other Syrah's. It has mellowed significantly and is far more approachable - the "easy drinker" of the bunch.
Ranked 4 of 6.
Still tasted youthful, bitter/sour on the finish. Benign.
Ranked 6 of 6 - it was close between this and the 2019 for which was the worst.
Darker in colour, still mid bodied. Coffee and cherry notes - comparatively rich. Impressed that it was only a 2018, would have thought it was older.
Ranked 3 of 6.
Least favourite nose of the bunch. Pyrazine/peppers - clearly a baby and not ready to be consumed.
Ranked 5 of 6, but was close with the 2016 for last place.
Darker in colour, still mid bodied. Prominent smoke along with some vanilla notes. It was tough to tell it was a lot older than some of the other wines.
Ranked 2 of 6.
Dark colour. Smooth, with subtle green pepper notes. Difficult to have picked out it was the oldest wine.
Ranked 1 of 6.
Closing
It was surprisingly difficult to guess the vintages - with the exception of the 2015 with its distinctive smoke. I may have also been biased from my earlier tastings of various vintages. I previously didn't like the 2017, but found it more approachable. The 2016 is still not good, and overall think the quality of the BH Syrah falls short of its $40 price tag.
Final ranking was 2014, 2015, 2018, 2017, 2019, 2016.
It confirmed I am likely done buying this wine and will stick to the Per Se and Ipso Facto, and a shrinking number of Nota Bene as they creep up the prices.