2012 Jaffurs Syrah Upslope
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Tasting notes
The 2012 Syrah Upslope is a blend of fruit from Bien Nacido and Larner, a pretty complementary mix in my book. Powerful and broad on the palate, the 2012 possesses superb depth and overall texture. The 50% new French oak barrels give the Upslope considerable shape without overpowering the wine. There is nothing subtle in this bold, overt Syrah, yet all the elements are in the right place. The Upslope was fermented with 17% whole clusters and a drop of Viognier.
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Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Josh Raynolds
More reviews and scores
The flagship Syrah is the 2012 Syrah Upslope which is a selection of the top barrels across all of the vineyards. In 2012 it was cofermented with a dash of Viognier, was mostly destemmed, and spent 22 months in 50% new French oak. It has a middle of the road feel compared to the other single-vineyard releases and offers classic cassis and black raspberry fruits, toasted bread, licorice and spice in a clean, balanced, full-bodied style. Nicely focused and with the purity of fruit and balance that all of the wines from Craig and David show, it's already drinking beautifully, yet will evolve gracefully for at least another decade.
(40% new French oak): Inky purple. Brooding aromas of cherry compote, blueberry, licorice pastille, smoky minerals and cola. Juicy, concentrated and expansive, offering deeply pitched flavors of dark berry liqueur, cherry-cola and candied violet. Shows real energy for such a rich wine. An impressively long smoke- and spice-tinged finish is framed by velvety, slow-building tannins, with the licorice and cola notes strongly repeating.