2015 The Contender Syrah
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Opzioni di acquisto
Note di degustazione
Medium ruby-red. Compellingly complex nose combines brambly blackberry, cocoa powder, iodiney minerality, fresh blood, black olive, crushed herbs and a meaty nuance lifted by a violet high note. Then a bit more brooding in the mouth than the spectacular nose suggests, conveying a pronounced savory character and a strong stem influence (this was vinified with about 40% whole clusters, compared to 15% to 30% for the other 2015 reds here) to its flavors of dark berries, violet and game. This tight-grained wine boasts terrific finesse of texture, not to mention sound acidity for a 2015 Syrah from The Rocks. A captivating midweight with a lovely restrained sweetness, a late note of pomegranate and terrific subtle length, this wine appears to be evolving very slowly but even today there are no hard edges. (13.4% alcohol)
Punteggi della critica
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Jeb Dunnuck
Altre recensioni e punteggi
Co-fermented with 4% Roussanne, the 2015 Syrah The Contender is more aromatically reserved than the In The Rocks bottling, but it's similar in profile, unfurling in the glass with notes of dried rose petals, ripe plums, grilled meats and coffee grounds. On the palate, it's fuller in body, with a richer attack and an ampler core of fruit, framed by similarly fine tannins and concluding with a savory, licorice and coffee- inflected finish. While it's a little more powerful than the In The Rocks, The Contender is quite supple and elegant this year.
A blend of 94% Syrah and 6% co-fermented Marsanne, the 2015 Syrah The Contender offers more black fruits, black cherries, smoked herbs, and minerality, and it’s medium to full-bodied, beautifully textured and elegant on the palate. It picks up depth and richness with time in the glass, and moderate acidity, and polished tannin. I suspect it will gain a touch more depth with a year or two in bottle and drink nicely for a decade. 525 cases.