Syrah (France)

French Syrah Explained By Jancis Robinson

Cave De Tain Saint Joseph (l’Hermitage) 2011 Syrah, $21.49-$29.99, 89 points (France)
Chateau Maris La Touge 2007 Syrah, $11.51-$29.99, average price on the internet is approximately $15.00, 89 points (France)
Domaine Fond Croze Côtes du Rhône Villages Cuvée Shyrus 2009 Syrah, $16.99-$19.99, 90 points (France)
Famille Ligneres Languedoc-Roussillon Chateau La Baronne Notre Dame 2006 Syrah, $8.99, 90 points (France)
Jean-Luc Colombo Les Fées Brunes Crozes Hermitage 2009 Syrah, $16,99-$19.99, flawed (France)
Mas Du Soleilla Coteaux Du Languedoc La Clape Les Bartelles (WHAT?), $50_, 90 points (France)
Moulin De Gassac Guilhem Languedoc 2014 Red Wine (France), $3.99-$5.49, 88 points
Paul Jaboulet Aîné Les Jalets 2011 Crozes-Hermitage (Syrah), $14.39-$19.99, 89 points (France)
Tenet Costières-de-Nîmes Le Fervent 2013 Syrah, $15.29-$19.99, 89+ points

Index-of-reviewed-wines

Copyright 2010-2020 Dennis Tsiorbas. All rights reserved, Template provided by Blogger

April 5th and I'm still thinking red wine!

  I keep buying White and Rosé Wines for the anticipated warm weather, but a warmer than normal winter has turned into a cold April, so today's red wine is a Syrah from France paired with Australian lamb rib chops (spiced with rosemary, oregano, black pepper, Himalayan pink salt, and garlic); though I wasn't happy driving in the snow for two days, I was quite happy with both yesterday's Merlot, and today's Syrah.
  A good wine is always something worth looking forward to after a long day at work; Cheers!

Index-of-reviewed-wines

Copyright 2010-2016 Dennis Tsiorbas. All rights reserved, Template provided by Blogger

Two Vintners Walla Walla Valley Pepper bridge vineyard 2012 Merlot

Two Vintners Walla Walla Valley Pepper bridge vineyard 2012 Merlot, 92 points, was a L-V gift (approx. $35), poured inky black up to the broad clear wine ring where a short burst of burgundy purple/red greeted the glass shallows.
Aromatic toasty black fruit with hints of cocoa, cedar, and cinnamon were excellent.
Full-bodied, good acidity, layered luscious tannins, and complex flavors beginning with black licorice, followed by damson plum, clove, fennel, and blackberries were outstanding.
Finished long on hot spice energized tannin, a warm 15.1% alcohol, and a silky trailing palate.
Only 200 cases made.

Index-of-reviewed-wines

Copyright 2010-2016 Dennis Tsiorbas. All rights reserved, Template provided by Blogger

FourVines Biker 2008 Paso Robles Zinfandel Revisited

FourVines Biker 2008 Paso Robles Zinfandel Revisited, $24.99, 89 points, was a red sub-pomegranate with a thin clear wine ring at the glass bowl of moderate sheeting.
Aromas of red cherry jam, cloves, cinnamon, licorice, and mushrooms were interesting and complex.
Near full-bodied, good acidity, and mild tannin managed red fruit, plum, licorice, and spearmint.
Finished long on the trailing palate dominated by red cherry and plum with mild spice notes and a noticeable 15% alcohol.
Still a very good Zinfandel; being a nearly eight-year old Zinfandel, this wine showed some finesse as well as staying power, though it has more than peaked (JMO).
Paired perfectly with my steak nachos.

Index-of-reviewed-wines

Copyright 2010-2016 Dennis Tsiorbas. All rights reserved, Template provided by Blogger

Dry Creek Heritage 2006 Zinfandel Revisited

Dry Creek Heritage 2006 Zinfandel Revisited, $20.99, 85 points, appeared Deep Maroon bleeding into the thin clear wine ring at the leggy glass wall.
First whiffs were unpropitious musty plum and a better briny smell with just a hint of allspice.
Near full-bodied with fair acidity and resolved tannin made for a somewhat bland, though quite acceptable and even surprisingly good, plum, licorice, and boysenberry flavor profile.
Finished fair with warm spice notes, a hint of pomegranate, cola, and an unobtrusive 14.5% alcohol.
This Zinfandel has seen its last days, and though perfectly acceptable, without a wow expectation, for most occasions; e.g. barbecues, fast-foods in the park, watching the baseball game with friends or alone.



Index-of-reviewed-wines

Copyright 2010-2016 Dennis Tsiorbas. All rights reserved, Template provided by Blogger

 

Neal Rutherford Dust Vineyards Napa Valley 2008 Zinfandel Revisited

Neal Rutherford Dust Vineyards Napa Valley 2008 Zinfandel Revisited, $22.09, 92 points, poured a mysterious deep burgundy red with a still crystal-clear wine ring at the leggy glass wall.
The aroma was better than I remembered it (wine evolves); Dusty wild off-the-stem blackberries, floral, and hints of red raspberry were excellent.
Medium-bodied, good acidity, and a mild underlayment of tannin carried balanced wild-berry flavors with a kiss of oak building into more of a hug found in and bound to the long finish of spice, slightly chalky red raspberry, a sweet-spot 14.9% alcohol, and hints of bourbon, all of which impressed.
This is the first of my older Zinfandel wines (tasted more than five years ago) that I liked better than first tasted.

Index-of-reviewed-wines

Copyright 2010-2016 Dennis Tsiorbas. All rights reserved, Template provided by Blogger

Spottswoode Napa Valley Estates Vineyard's Lyndenhurst 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon

Spottswoode Napa Valley Estates Vineyard's Lyndenhurst 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon, 
$59.49-$69.99, 94 points, poured core black radiating purple/red toward the broad clear wine ring and leggy glass bowl.
Aromas began with classic cedar, blackberry, and cigar box, but transitioned into a bouquet of roses, lilacs, and just a hint of fresh-washed linen (Magnificent).
Full-bodied, good acidity, layered-silky tannins, and an amazingly well-balanced flavor profile with black fruit, mint, and mulling spice gracefully developed in the glass.
Finished long, and depending how much time the wine was allowed to open, finished from accelerating tannin to moderating luscious tannin with a lovely trailing palate and warm spice notes with an elegant and restrained 13.9% alcohol.

Varietals were 96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Malbec and 2% Cabernet franc.

Paired well with my spiced rare rib eye steak.

 

Index-of-reviewed-wines

Copyright 2010-2016 Dennis Tsiorbas. All rights reserved, Template provided by Blogger