2016 Syrah Powerline Estate
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Tasting notes
All Phelps clone and not destemmed, the 2016 Syrah Powerline was fermented in small, stainless steel bins and aged in mostly neutral puncheons. It has a big, spicy bouquet of white pepper, blackcurrants, sappy green herbs, and hints of game. This carries to a medium to full-bodied, elegant wine that has good acidity, fine tannins, and a great finish. It's another Northern Rhone look-alike. This is what I call a stacked lineup from K Vintners, and the team of Charles Smith and Brennon Leighton continue to make brilliant wines. The lineup is broken up into multiple brands today, with K Vintners focusing primarily on Rhone varieties. The Wines of Substance (or just Substance) label are the Bordeaux based wines, then you have CasaSmith, Sixto, B. Leighton, and now Golden West.
Critic scores
Average Score
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
Bright, dark red. Slightly liqueur-like aromas of raspberry and exotic spices. Bright and penetrating, offering sharply delineated flavors of boysenberry, pomegranate and game. This high-pitched midweight delivers serious energy and a late note of pungent citrus peel adds grip to the finish. This wine and The Beautiful have similar pHs around 3.95, according to Leighton. (from the Phelps clone; fermented in large stainless steel seed bins)
The 2016 Syrah Powerline has a more robust nose than many of the other Syrahs in the range, with an open-knit expression of blackberry jus, dark cherry compote and soft, savory aromas over a core of dusty river rock. The medium to full-bodied palate shows an approachable wine that may not last as long as the other Syrahs in the range but is ready now. The wine has a tension that delivers pleasure with depth on the long finish that ends slightly hot. 1,011 cases made.