A group of CT’ers and fellow winos gathered at the Wine Club Cellar in Irvine, CA this past weekend to participate in the 4th Cellar Tracker Virtual Tasting. The theme of the tasting was syrah, with the goal being to select a few 100% Syrah bottlings from various regions around the world to get a sense of some different interpretations of this fantastic grape. The 5 wines in the “official” tasting were:
2004 Glen Carlou
2006 Duval Entity
2007 Cosme CdR
2005 Long Shadows Sequel
2006 Montes Alpha
To make things more interesting we decided to taste these blind … and to make things more difficult a few curveballs were thrown into the mix. Nobody spotted the '02 Keenan Merlot as we were tasting through, but then again nobody knew a non-Syrah ringer was included (because I put the merlot in there I knew it was there, but even I didn’t catch it during my go through the lineup). An '05 Entity was thrown into the mix to compare the '05 and '06 – I scored them the same, but slightly prefer the '05 over the '06 as they are drinking today. We also threw a couple more South Africans into the mix, so the Carlou wouldn’t stand out like a sore thumb (which it ultimately did, anyways). Jeremy was kind enough to throw 2 bottles of the Cosme CdR into the blind lineup – one as a pop and pour, another with a 24 hour decant on it – that was really interesting because they came across as very different wines to me. And the always-controversial 'Dooker made an appearance as well, and I have to admit I wasn’t as turned-off by it as so many others are. I had a great time and am looking forward to the next event! ![[cheers.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/0/0ff9bfcdb0964982cd3240b6159868fbdf215b1a.gif "cheers"){kind=small}
(oh yeah, some of us played some poker too).
2006 Mollydooker Shiraz The Boxer - Australia, South Australia, McLaren Vale / Padthaway
– decanted before tasting –
– tasted blind: Served 1st out of 13 –
This wine had a purple-garnet color of great depth with a moderate amount of fine particulate matter. Aromas of lush boysenberry and dusty bell pepper. Surprisingly earthy palate: green bell pepper, leather and spice. Well-ballanced, with a shortish medium finish (approx. 35 sec.). I was very surprised when this was revealed as a Dooker.
B: 50, 5, 11, 16, 7 = 89 points
2003 Waterford Shiraz Kevin Arnold - South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch
– decanted for about 1 hour before tasting –
– tasted blind: Served 2 out of 11 –
Rustic garnet color of great depth with a moderate amount of superfine particulate matter. Meaty/spicy/smoky/slightly funky bouquet is much earthier than it is fruity. Medium bodied on the palate – spicy and slightly smoky plum flavor leads into short-medium finish (30-35 sec.). A tad on the acidic side of well-balanced. The reveal confirmed my preference for Waterford’s regular '03 Shiraz over this one.
B: 50,5, 11, 15, 7 = 88 points
2005 John Duval Wines Shiraz Entity - Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
– double decanted before tasting: decanted for 2.5 hours before going back into the bottle overnight –
– tasted blind: served 3rd out of 11 –
Garnet color of great depth. Gobs of raspberry mix with hints of bloody meat and light spices – with time in the glass, a captivating bourbon/cognac note emerges as does a hint of mint. This wine is well-balanced, and full bodied. Flavors of chocolate, dark fruits and eucalyptus gave this away as Barossa; a bit oaky, but not too much for my taste. This wine kept changing in the glass, and was a pleasure to explore. Hold. My #2 wine of the tasting.
B: 50, 5, 12, 16, 8 = 91 points
2003 Waterford Shiraz - South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch
– popped and poured: tasted about 1 hour after opening –
– tasted blind: Served 4th out of 11 –
Rustic ruby color of medium-deep depth. As soon as I smelled this wine and its smoky/funky aromas I knew what this was. I didn’t take very detailed notes on this one, but did note bright red fruits and a hint of funk on the medium bodied palate. Well-balanced, leaning towards the acidic side of well-balanced. Long finish. Once again, this wine shows the goods – this bottle was in line with the others I’ve previously noted. My #1 wine of the tasting.
B: 50, 5, 12, 17, 8 = 92 points
2006 Montes Syrah Alpha - Chile, Central Valley, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley
– tasted blind: served 5th out of 11 –
Purple-garnet color of great depth. Chocolate-covered raisins and cedary spice are the main players on the somewhat boring bouquet – a citrus aspect did add an interesting element, however. Medium-full bodied. Raisiny, blackberries, oak and lots of chocolate on the palate; hot; well-balanced with a medium length finish. Technically, this wine is well-made, but it was very underwhelming in its performance (performed below the score I’m giving it), and I would not seek it out for purchase.
B: 50, 5, 11, 15, 6 = 87 points
2007 Saint-Cosme Côtes du Rhône - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône
– popped and poured - I tasted this about 2 hours after it was opened –
– tasted blind: served 6th out of 11 –
Purple color of medium-deep depth, and a little superfine particulate matter suspended in the wine. Interesting bouquet: I enjoyed hte sandalwood/raspberry/cranberry/meaty interplay, but somehow the bouquet came across as somewhat Pop-Tarty. Medium bodied. Very simple on the palate, with nothing besides raspberries to note. Medium-length finish. Another bottle of the same was in this blind lineup, with the only difference being that this bottle was a pop-and-pour, whereas the other bottle received a 24 hour decant – I preferred the one on the decant.
B: 50, 5, 11, 15, 6 = 87 points
2006 John Duval Wines Shiraz Entity - Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
– double-decanted before the event: received a 3 hour decant the night before the event –
– tasted blind: served 7th out of 11 –
Purple-garnet color of deep depth, and a small amount of superfine particulate matter suspended in the wine. Ripe fruits and big-time pepper on the bouquet, as well as a hint of sandalwood. Medium-full bodied on the palate with a nice acid/tannin balance. Tight and a bit hot, with flavors of loganberry, pepper and underbrush. This puppy needs time.
B: 50, 5, 12, 16, 8 = 91 points
2002 Robert Keenan Winery Merlot Napa Valley - USA, California, Napa Valley
– double decanted the night before the event –
– tasted blind: served 8th out of 11 –
Rustic garnet color of deep depth. Nice chalky/talc-like bouquet with notes of loganberry and funk joining the mix. Medium bodied. Ripe fruits --spicy raspberry – on the palate and some oak coming through on the medium-long finish. Well-balanced. Even though I knew this merlot was in the mix amongst 10 syrahs, it did not stand out as distinctively merlot as I was tasting through. After the reveal, I looked at my TN’s, and the only thing that really separated my notes on this wine from the others was the chalk on the nose. Aside from being a great wine to throw into a blind syrah tasting, this is very nice merlot that I would purchase again.
B: 50, 5, 12, 15, 7 = 89 points
2007 Saint-Cosme Côtes du Rhône - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône
– decanted for 24 hours before the event –
– tasted blind: served 9th out of 11 –
Magenta-purple color of deep depth, and a moderate amount of superfine particulate matter. Somewhat tight bouquet was a tad funky and featured dark berries (blackberries and blueberries). Full bodied on the palate; Flavors of blackberries, oak, and a hint of pine. A bit hot, and a bit on the tannic side of well-balanced. This came across as somewhat simple, but very good for what it is. Given my impressions of the pop-and-pour bottle that was also included in this tasting, I would recommend decanting this wine before drinking.
B: 50,5, 12, 15, 8 = 90 points
2005 Long Shadows Wineries Syrah Sequel - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
– tasted blind: served 10th out of 11 –
Purple color of great depth, and a small amount of fine particulate matter suspended in the wine. I didn’t write much down for bouquet other than “cool climate nose.” Full bodied. This wine is big big big, extracted and ripe with flavors of blueberries and bacon fat. I was not impressed with this, as it came across as way too big and gloppy. Easily the disappointment of the tasting, for me, I’m hoping this comes around after a few years in the cellar. Hold.
B: 50, 5, 11, 15, 7 = 88 points
2004 Glen Carlou Syrah - South Africa, Coastal Region, Paarl
– this wine received an 18 hour decant before the event –
– tasted blind: served 11th out of 11 –
Dark rustic ruby color of great depth with lots of superfine particulate matter. Green meatiness on the somewhat oxidative bouquet. Medium-full bodied, and well-balanced. A bit smoky on the palate, along with a definite greeness. Not my style.
B: 50, 5, 9, 13, 5 = 82 points
2004 Domaine de Nizas Coteaux du Languedoc - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Coteaux du Languedoc
– popped and poured –
– tasted non-blind about 5 hours after opening –
Purple-garnet color of medium-deep depth; small amount of superfine particulate matter. Cherry, crannberry and meat on the nose. Iron and meaty on the palate; hole near back of mid-palate. Tannic. Medium-short finish. A nice wine that I will buy again.
Gut impression score: (87-89)
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