2016 Syrah SJR Vineyard
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Tasting notes
The 2016 Syrah SJR Vineyard is open and ready to express itself, with a black-fruited core of stewed plum and blackberry compote with black olive, smoked peppercorn and bacon dropped in the sand. Full-bodied and with rocky mineral tones and black pepper on the palate, the wine has a certain breadth and depth about it, building with fine-grained tannins. Ending with a long, expressive finish, the rich flavors continue to evolve, with almost sticky black fruit, complex minerality that lingers with exotic French oak spices on the aftertaste. This wine is beautiful, and with only 65 cases made, it will sell quickly. I want more!
Critic scores
Average Score
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
The 2016 Syrah SJR Vineyard is a viscerally thrilling, awesome Syrah that tops out on my scale. Massive notes of black and blue fruits, lavender, ground pepper, and smoked earth all flow to a full-bodied, seamless, layered, wine that carries beautiful density and concentration, yet glides over the palate with no sensation of weight or heaviness. Incredibly complex, powerful, and elegant, it’s a perfect wine from this estate and one of the greatest wines to date from this region.
(aged in 40% new oak; the pH here is a lofty 4.2, with 6 g/l total acidity; the fruit was entirely destemmed): Bright ruby. Spectacular, kaleidoscopic northern Rhône aromas of wild blackberry, bacon fat, violet, brown spices, game, tar and black olive tapenade. Ripe, plush and savory, conveying a high-pH saltiness to its flavors of black raspberry and mocha. Very saline but not slick or funky. In fact, this very impressive wine from The Rocks finishes with serious glyceral length, a note of iodine and a distinctly briney quality. (14.8% alcohol)