Sunday 8 April 2012

The Easter Syrah Battle - Part II



The next pair of Syrah´s up this weekend is two favourites of mine, although they are very much different from each other - one is a classic example of a Côte-Rôtie and the other is a very modern Australien Shiraz - but I love drinking them both!

1999 Côte-Rôtie, Jamet
This is the best vintage from Jamet that I have ever tasted, and I have tasted all major vintages back to 1990. Would love to taste the 1988 though, which Parker raves about.
The nose is just captivating in all its splendor. Haunting notes of freshly peppered meat, sweet blueberries, thyme, violets and lots of fresh undergrowth with some resin in it. This speaks to the heart. A stunning example of the Syrah grape.
The taste is just awesome, with sweet, fresh black fruit, thyme insfused seared meat, minerals and warm earth. The finish is long, focused and the tannin creeps up at the end, leaving the mouth clean and wanting another large sip. Its still on the young side of things but there is no problem drinking glass after glass of this juice right now!
95p   (tasted 2012/04)

2001 Henry´s Drive Reserve Shiraz
This beast weighs in at 15% alcohol. Does it show? Nope. Is is over the top? Nope. Is it any good? Is the pope catholic...
The nose is sex in a glass - hedonistic, dripping wet, full of funky notes and just exhilarating. Leaving the juicy parts aside, this is stunning! The nose explodes from the glass with notes of ripe black- and blueberries, vanilla infused cookie dough, leather, black peppear, eukaluptys and marshmallow powder. Very outgoing but it has a tight, intense core in the middle. A nectar!
The taste is as sexy as the nose - this liquid just flows over the tongue with the most sweet, powerful yet restrained fruit ever and fills every nook in the mouth. The finish never ends. Impressive notes of blackberries, rasberries, vanilla oak, sweet licorice, new leather, sugared coffe and a dark perfumed note. Seamsless. This is going on the list - 2012 most memorable bottles!
97p   (tasted 2012/04)

Two stunning bottles with everything one can ask for from the Syrah grape. And with a couple of grilled steaks they created a magic evening!

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