2019 Black Sheep Finds Syrah Holus Bolus "Franc de Pied"

Community Tasting Notes (6) Avg Score: 92.3 points

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  10/11/2023 - Shloly Likes this wine: 90 Points

  The wine is clear, with deep purple color, slightly ruby towards the rims, and thick legs.
  
  On the nose the wine is clean, with medium primary aroma intensity of ripe black fruits, black currant, red fruits, raspberry, along with medium secondary aroma intensity of oak spices.
  
  On the palate the wine is dry, with medium plus acidity, medium green tannins, medium alcohol, medium body, medium plus primary flavor intensity of ripe black fruits, plums, red fruits, strawberries, along with medium secondary flavor intensity of oak spices.
  Finish is long.
  
  The wine is of a very good quality, as it is having great balance between fruit and acidity, excellent length, intensity and fruit concentration.
  
  The wine was not very expressive at time of tasting, dominated by primary fruits, thus I believe that it will benefit from further bottle aging. Winemaking on this one is an absolute delight! Very clean, vibrant, and appealing.

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  10/11/2023 - kostaslonis Likes this wine:

  Tasting Ground official tasting, Holus Bolus (Oinoscent): 13.50% Santa Rita Hills
  Sourced from a vineyard called John Sebastiano in Sta. Rita Hills, also a cool coastal location about 10 miles from the Pacific. The soils here are a mix of clay loam with a few bits of limestone, though not too much. This block is planted with a “suitcase clone” from the Rhone Valley called the Alban clone. John Alban is a wine maker in our area and has brought budwood over from France. The vines are also planted without rootstock so we call them “franc de pied” or French foot as they are a French selection and not on American rootstock. In the vineyard, the vines produce less fruit, have smaller clusters and make a more savory wine.
  
  The winter of 2018-2019 had good above average winter rainfall (all of our rain comes between December-April) after a very dry 2017-2018 winter. The Syrah was harvested on September 20 under good conditions. Harvest chemistry was 3.60pH and total acidity of 5.3 grams per liter with potential alcohol of about 13.8%. These grapes are partially destemmed, about 70% and 30% left as whole bunches. Fermented with native yeasts for about 15 days in 2-ton stainless steel tanks. The hard press wine is separated and declassified and the remaining wine is aged in about 10% new oak, mostly 300 ltr French oak for 14 months before bottling.
  
  Bottle uncorked at 09.35, tasted at 12.00
  -/-
  Far more reserve and “serious” than 2019 Presqu’ile Syrah with its deep fruit core and nuanced spice frame. This is not shouting or parading like a peacock but walks slowly at you with the certainty of a big-ass lion! Ethereal and dense, spicy and seductive like a top Rhône wine
  Palate shows velvety tannins, juicy texture, , fresh red fruit framed masterfully by a rustic spice frame, med body, electrifying acidity and never ending finish
  Outstanding quality! As far as I can remember, this is probably the best American Syrah I’ve ever had

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  11/26/2022 - Cabfrancophile wrote: 92 Points

  I had intended to pull the SRH, grabbed the FdP instead for our Thanksgiving trip. No matter, still a great choice. Silky palate that mixes mulberry with kalamatta olives, rounded and elegant, with fine tannins and a long finish. Aromas of violets, white pepper, blackberry, and a subtle hint of asphalt.
  
  As refined as it is, it should further integrate for several years, and probably will age well on its balance through age 10.

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  7/8/2022 - Rieslingfan wrote:

  Holy Boly! This a quite the blend of new world fruit and old world savory. What stands out is the depth, the sappiness of expression. Black fruit, red meat, black olive, red gravel, it’s all there, in a supple, yet focused package. I honestly had a hard time putting down the glass. Seriously impressive blend of new world environment and old world sensibility.

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  1/1/2022 - Cabfrancophile Likes this wine:

  I typically prefer their Preq'uile Syrah, but I think in 2019 the FdP gets the edge. White pepper, olive, blackberry. Elegant palate impression, savory and agile, integral yet firm tannic structure promises favorable evolution. High delicious factor.

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