Oh, Arnot-Roberts. I’ve said it many times on this sub: my desert-island US producer, easily. Aged at the winery (and acquired there just this last month.) Simply unreal- would have guessed maybe 5-6 yrs on it max, never 15. Essentially zero sense of aging beyond a bit of extra expressivity and softer tannin compared to their last couple recent releases. This is in a perfect drinking window and could clearly age quite a bit longer if that’s your thing.
Teeming with electricity and ornate complexity, really walking a tightrope between a wild, rugged, feral style and something super graceful, delicate, ultra-precise. Smoked brisket, red wine salami, super vivid olive tapenade, almost a pinch of peaty whisky, a deep, inky core of blackberry compote, star anise…pungent and heady but still so fresh, pristine, 11.9% ABV, tannins *feel* melted but the structure is still there. The acid-driven finish lingers for ages as the crisp wild blackberry flavors totally saturate your palate. Despite the ripping acid, it never feels puckery or tart; almost more of a briney character giving lift to the fruit and meaty notes. The powerfully savory cracked-pepper notes from the stem inclusion are also beautifully integrated, never harsh.
One of the best Syrahs out there right now imo (very especially for the price point, typically sub-$50, sometimes well below that at auction too.) Feels more old-school and uncompromising than many old school Northern Rhone syrahs, and this is their “entry level” for the grape.
Comparing it to their 2013 Griffin’s Lair Vnyd syrah we drank this last June, very similar overall vibe- Griffin’s Lair was a touch deeper and darker with no less energy, which was a positive, but also was a bit harsher texturally at that stage with grittier tannin, while this cuveé was a bit more elegant and silky-textured. I think the Griffin’s Lair is maybe the better wine, just even more demanding of age to really blossom.
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Oh, Arnot-Roberts. I’ve said it many times on this sub: my desert-island US producer, easily. Aged at the winery (and acquired there just this last month.) Simply unreal- would have guessed maybe 5-6 yrs on it max, never 15. Essentially zero sense of aging beyond a bit of extra expressivity and softer tannin compared to their last couple recent releases. This is in a perfect drinking window and could clearly age quite a bit longer if that’s your thing.
Teeming with electricity and ornate complexity, really walking a tightrope between a wild, rugged, feral style and something super graceful, delicate, ultra-precise. Smoked brisket, red wine salami, super vivid olive tapenade, almost a pinch of peaty whisky, a deep, inky core of blackberry compote, star anise…pungent and heady but still so fresh, pristine, 11.9% ABV, tannins *feel* melted but the structure is still there. The acid-driven finish lingers for ages as the crisp wild blackberry flavors totally saturate your palate. Despite the ripping acid, it never feels puckery or tart; almost more of a briney character giving lift to the fruit and meaty notes. The powerfully savory cracked-pepper notes from the stem inclusion are also beautifully integrated, never harsh.
One of the best Syrahs out there right now imo (very especially for the price point, typically sub-$50, sometimes well below that at auction too.) Feels more old-school and uncompromising than many old school Northern Rhone syrahs, and this is their “entry level” for the grape.
Comparing it to their 2013 Griffin’s Lair Vnyd syrah we drank this last June, very similar overall vibe- Griffin’s Lair was a touch deeper and darker with no less energy, which was a positive, but also was a bit harsher texturally at that stage with grittier tannin, while this cuveé was a bit more elegant and silky-textured. I think the Griffin’s Lair is maybe the better wine, just even more demanding of age to really blossom.