$30.00 Plus Syrah Tasting

Very casual and more social event but excellent wines emerged. Here are the notes.

CellarTracker! $30 & Up Syrah Tasting

• 2020 Knappstein Shiraz Clare Valley – Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
  Tasted out of a Glasvin Universal Stem. This is better then my note from 2023. While a Total Wine Exclusive it is pretty tasty. Cooler climate effort with blue currants, smoke, black pepper, stone and game. Medium finish. Drink now through 2030. (90 pts.)
• 2021 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Crozes-Hermitage – France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Crozes-Hermitage
  Sampled out of the Glasvin Universal Stem. This needs time. The disadvantage of a pop and pour. Fruit is a bit muted currently with wood, white pepper, earth and floral notes. Over time fruit appeared but my advice hold these. 88-90. (88 pts.)

• 2020 Mollydooker Shiraz Blue Eyed Boy – Australia, South Australia
  Sampled out of a Glasvin universal. Well this wine is get disrupted. What an absolute mess of a wine. I have found recent vintages of good Aussie producers dialing it back on alcohol and in your face styles. This is in your face and a hot mess. First I get the heat and tastes like it was aged in a charred Bourbon barrel. Eucalyptus, WOOD, spices and hard to detect fruit hiding in this mess of a wine. I don’t think 3 days would save this one and I am not willing to buy a bottle to find out. Not even the Mollydooker Shake could save this one. 16.5% alcohol. (75 pts.)

• 2021 Vinicola Guaspari Vale da Pedra – Brazil, São Paulo
  Tasted out of the Glasvin Universal Stem. This was very good and a nice change to the Mollydooker Blue Eyed Boy. Elegant and a cross between a cool climate Clare Valley and Walla Walla Rocks Syrah. White pepper, spices, blackberries, blueberries, rose petals and a touch of smoke. Picks up some nice minerality on the medium finish. My friends Tom and Bruna visit Brazil often and all the wines I have tasted on their recent visits have been excellent. (91 pts.)
• 2016 Van Ruiten Syrah – USA, California, Central Valley, Lodi
  Tasted or I should say smelled out of the Glasvin Universal Stem. Instantly called corked on this wine. What was interesting as the Riedel Northern Rhone Syrah glass did not give that impression until tasting the wine. Glasvin for the win! (FLAWED)
• 2005 Branson Coach House Shiraz Rare Single Vineyard Coach House Block – Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
  Tasted out of the Glasvin Universal Stem. Decanted this 3 hours prior to coming to the event. On initial pour a bit tight around 90 points. As this got more air it was clearly wine of the night. These aged Aussie wines are not only great deals via auction but have shed that in your face style from release. Dried flowers, blue currants, pepper, spice, soy, minerals, earth and a touch of Eucalyptus. Medium plus finish. Drink now. (93 pts.)
• 2022 Domaine des Ouleb Thaleb Syrah Tandem – Morocco, Rabat/Casablanca, Zenata
  Tasted out of the Glasvin Universal Stem. Well low alcohol and maybe too low. 12.5%. Very light wine with green olives, light currants, mild spice, chalk and dirt. For sure not a favorite of the night but fun to try. (85 pts.)
• 2024 Tensley Syrah Santa Barbara County – USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County
  Tasted out of the Universal Glasvin Stem. Ok this is one of the best wines for those who like a more fruit forward style. Plum, cherry and raspberries up front but there is always more to these wines. Earth, black pepper and spices. Medium plus finish. Enjoyable on a pop and pour. (91 pts.)

• 2021 Result of a Crush Syrah The Unnamed Series – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
  Tasted out of the Glasvin Universal. Another great showing for this wine. Green olives, roasted meats, pepper, floral, earth, tar and stones. Medium finish. Broken recorded I know but those who don’t think these are mid to low 90s put it in a blind tasting sometime. (93 pts.)
• 2022 Result of a Crush Cabernet Sauvignon – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
  Universal Glasvin Stem. Ok green is a good way to describe this wine. I have always enjoyed their Claret with some Merlot blended in but their straight up Cabs not so much. Menthol, green olives, cherry, spice and bell peppers. Not my favorite. (87 pts.)
• 2019 Viña San Pedro Syrah 1865 Selected Vineyards – Chile, Rapel Valley, Cachapoal Valley
  Tasted out of the Glasvin Universal Stem. Well the other user nailed the 85. Drinkable but not great. Light fruits, spice and floral notes. Shorter finish. Drink now. (85 pts.)
• 2010 Reynvaan Family Vineyards Syrah The Unnamed – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
  Tasted out of the Glasvin Universal Stem. Tasted on day 2 as a starter wine. Pretty darn good starter wine. Classic rocks profile with stone, green olives, pepper, minerals, earth, tar and floral notes. These have another 5 plus years of enjoyment. Seek and find 2010 Walla Walla Syrah’s. (93 pts.)