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Incredibly dense and powerful nose of dark fruits, dried herbs, garrigue and charred meat with vanilla. Full bodied and richly unctuous, powerful without feeling heavy. Very young and the oak still needs to integrate. A very accomplished wine, a touch more edginess and freshness might take it to another level. Still young. (AC)
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Jancis Robinson MW
Alistair Cooper MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
Made with grapes from the San Antonio DO, this Syrah enjoyed a lengthy maturation for 18 to 20 months in 25% new barrels. A deep inky purple, it feels alcoholic on the nose, with bacon and wood initially followed by blackberry jam and prunes. The fleshy palate is held together by firm woody tannins.
The 2015 EQ Syrah, a cool-climate Syrah from vines on red granite soils, fermented in open vats with indigenous yeasts and matured in 225-liter French oak barrels for 18 months. 2015 was a ripe and powerful year, and the wines show it. The fruit is black rather than red, and it has notes of smoke and toast that blow off with time in the glass, taking off with lots of spices and a leathery touch. 29,500 bottles produced. It was bottled in December 2016, as they also want to keep the wine in bottle for at least a year before it's released.
100% Syrah. Vineyards 12 km from the Pacific Ocean. Granitic and quartz soils. Vineyard management according to biodynamic principles. Hand-harvested. Cold soaking. Fermentation with indigenous yeasts and in open vats. Foot-treading of the must. Malolactic conversion and ageing for 18–20 months in French oak barrels. 50,000 bottles. Very open nose, spicy and with layers of complexity. Deep. It has a juicy profile, but also mouth-watering, with great freshness and complexity. A juicy, voluminous Syrah delivering lots of pleasure. (FC)