Decanted for three hours before drinking, then let it unfold in the decanter for another two hours as we drank.
This is a powerful, yet controlled wine.
Initial taste was super strong and powerful but mellowed out with air.
On the nose, the strongest note was strawberry with balsamic and pepper. Yes, I'm aware pepper and Syrah is a cliché, but it fits here. Less peppery than a Rhône Syrah, though.
Also some slight notes of cinnamon stick and turmeric.
On the palate, dark fruit, slight citrus.
Doesn't taste hot at all, but recommend serving and maintaining at cellar temp.
Pairs well with spicy vegetarian nachos. If you're going to pair this with food, need something bold enough to stand up to it.
Good complement to the Shakti, the 2014 Grenache from SQN. Honestly, both wines have incredible labels and names that got me intrigued and have me as a repeat buyer.
93 points.
by rnjbond
2 Comments
> Yes, I’m aware pepper and Syrah is a cliché, but it fits here.
Not to sound like a shithead, but … Syrah-based wines contain various levels of rotundone, which is the chemical compound that gives that peppery character. Is it therefore a bit cliché to mention pepper in tasting notes for a Syrah-based wine? I personally don’t think so, because the chemical precursor to the peppery character are empirically observable. (This is also true of the green bell pepper character in most Sauvignon Blanc wines, courtesy of pyrazines.)
Was it worth the price of admission? Your note suggests it’s a pretty simple wine