2010 Foxen Syrah Toasted Rope

There is plenty to like about Foxen’s 2010 Syrah Toasted Rope, the most successful of the 2010 Syrahs. A gorgeous, expressive bouquet leads to dark red cherries, plums, mint, roses and tobacco as this gracious wine opens up in the glass. The addition of 16% Viognier gives the Toasted Slope a gorgeous upper register of aromatics that completes the wine nicely. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2020. I always look forward to tasting the Foxen wines, as they are loaded with class and personality across the board. The Chardonnays and the Pinots are the highlights among this set of new releases, while the 2010 Syrahs can’t quite match the superb 2009s. The 2010 Pinots in particular are well worth the effort of tracking down. Like all of the Foxen reds, they see minimal racking and are bottled without fining or filtration. Tel. (805) 937-4251

The sweetest fruited and most supple and approachable of the lineup, the 2010 Foxen Syrah Toasted Rope is a blend of 84% Syrah and 16% Viognier that was aged 50% in new Hungarian oak. Oozing sweet kirsch, currant, white pepper, wild herbs, and bramble like aromas and flavors, this full-bodied Syrah is beautifully put together on the palate, showing good concentration, layers of sweet fruit, and a seamless, polished, and light texture that stays clean and focused. There is a transparency here that is notable, and while already complex and delicious, it should age gracefully as well.