Blind tasting - Syrah, Northern Rhone, Australia and NZ
Newmarket, Auckland
Tasted May 14, 2022 by evanqian with 155 views
Introduction
8 experienced wine tasters (but most of them are not fan of Syrah) and 8 wines.
Australia Shiraz has obvious characters, open, wild, somehow rustic. no mistake on recognising them, for each of us.
Cote Rotie is the king, especially when it's well aged. rich, dense, charming and complex. however, Yves Cuilleron was brooding during that night.
Cornas showing energy and beautiful mineral notes.
FHE has most density in the flight, explosive herbal style, maybe over extract, bitter in the beginning, need more time, a lot of potentials, worth to wait. the estate said they are influenced by French style, but the wine tastes obviously New World, no mistake to recoginse it's NZ Syrah, as that's deep herbal taste instead of Barossa jammy and white pepper combination.
Rod McDonald Trademark is one of my favourite NZ Syrah, two of us thought it's Nothern Rhone, really flawless on the balance and elegance. however, the purity and precision exposed its origin.
All wonderful wines, having typical origin characters.
Flight 1 (8 notes)
Red
2006 Pierre Gaillard Côte-Rôtie
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie
garnet, brick rim. perfectly mellowed, perfumed, dark fruits and spices, some meaty, herbals and oak flavours, fine grained tannins, delicate texture, m++ finish with subtle earth, coffee and very mild black pepper notes. it demonstrates everything a Northern Rhone should have, in an upright way. tastes somehow like Pinot Noir. it's a wonderful wine aged very well to its peak, very good on density and complexity.
WS 91, BD 15.5
Voted #1 by the group.
Ap 5/5, Ar 13/15, Palate 18/20, Overall 4+5/10
Total 95/100
Red
2012 Penfolds Shiraz Bin 28 Kalimna
Australia, South Australia
It’s a well aged bin 28, typical south Australia Shiraz, dark colour, a little garnet rim. Dense, bold, ripe dark fruits, spices, warm alcohol, full body, medium grained tannins, a little rustic, m+ finish with chocolate notes. integrated better after 10 years ageing. Almost at peak, with more potentials ahead. Very good on density and weight, but less complexity than others in the flight.
WE 93, WS 91, WF 92, JO 88, JG 89
Ap 5/5, Ar 13/15, Palate 16/20, Overall 3+4/10
Total 91/100
Red
2018 Te Awanga Estate Syrah Trademark
New Zealand, North Island, Hawke's Bay
rich flavours, dark fruits, spices, herbals, precise and delicate, in a m+ body, moderate velvety tannins, perfumed long finish. very good complexity presenting in an elegant way, all balance. an impressive NZ Syrah, very enjoyable though it's still young and has a lot potentials in the next 10 years.
voted as #2 by the group
Ap 5/5, Ar 13/15, Palate 17/20, Overall 4+4/10
Total 93+/100
Red
2013 Frenchmans Hill Estate Syrah Expatrius
New Zealand, North Island, Auckland, Waiheke Island
rich and luscious. dense dark fruits, dark dry herbals, bitter. firm tannins, dark chocolate and coffee. opened after 2.5 hours breathing, dense ripe fruity sweet core emerging, integrated well with softer herbal and savoury flavours. long long mocha notes finish.
A strong frenchman? very impressive and interesting Syrah, great on density and complexity. need more time, 5-7 years, be patient. MC 5, CD 95.
Ap 5/5, Ar 13/15, Palate 18/20, Overall 4+4/10
Total 94+/100
Red
2012 Jacob's Creek Shiraz Centenary Hill
Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
dense and bold flavours, dark fruits, black pepper, dark herbals, austere, tannic, good weight and density. long finish with bitter notes: cacao and coffee bean. surprisingly unintegrated at all after 10 years ageing. JO indicated drinking window as 2024- 2032, which is confirmed by this bottle.
WS 90, WF 93, JO 95
Ap 5/5, Ar 12/15, Palate 15/20, Overall 4+5/10
Total 91+/100
Red
2019 Domaine Lionnet Cornas Pur Granit
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Cornas
dark berries, energetic, beautiful moderate violet lingering, solid acidity, moderate tannins, grippy. sweet dark fruit core, a little funky notes in finish. all balanced.
Vinous 93-95
Ap 5/5, Ar 12/15, Palate 17/20, Overall 4+4/10
Total 92+/100
Red
2017 Equis Cornas
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Cornas
perfumed, moderate but rich flavours, red fruits, cranberry spices, meaty, cedar and graphite. mouth-watering acidity, medium grained tannins, m+ finish with smoky and mineral notes. it's vivacious wine, easy to enjoy, lasting long and good on complexity.
Ap 5/5, Ar 13/15, Palate 17/20, Overall 3+4/10
Total 92+/100
Red
2011 Domaine Yves Cuilleron Côte-Rôtie Terres Sombres
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie
a little closed, ripe dark fruits with some spices. medium body, medium tannins, medium finish with oak and sweet vanilla. balanced in general, but not impressive, especially compare to the Pierre Gaillard, which is more energetic.
ST 90-92
Ap 5/5, Ar 12/15, Palate 16/20, Overall 3+4/10
Total 90/100
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