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BUYINGGUIDE
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Theopolis 2013 Estate Grown Petite Sirah
(Yorkville Highlands). For full review see
page 8. Cellar Selection.
abv: 14.8% Price: $38
92
Mauritson 2013 Madrone Spring Vineyard
Petite Sirah (Rockpile). This wine is 100%
varietal, aged entirely in French oak. Shy at first, it
allows room for an earthy element of compost and is
dark and brooding all around, with sizable, tamed,
chalky tannin. Leather, black pepper, licorice and
cinnamon all make an appearance, adding to the
wine’s complexity and likability. —V.B.
abv: 14.75% Price: $41
92
Peachy Canyon 2014 Petite Sirah (Paso
Robles). For full review see page 11.
abv: 14.5% Price: $32
92
Stags’ Leap Winery 2013 Ne Cede Malis
Estate Grown Petite Sirah (Stags Leap District).
For full review see page 12.
abv: 14.1% Price: $115
91
Jaxon Keys 2013 Estate Allie Key’s Vineyard
Petite Sirah (Mendocino). Mouthfilling,
mouthcoating and full bodied, this dark-colored
wine blends ripe but not sweet blackberry and
black-cherry flavors with dark chocolate and baking-spice
nuances for a complex and delicious taste
profile. It’s rich enough in flavor and viscous enough
in texture that the abundant tannins seem to be
absorbed, and the mouthfeel is soothing. Best from
2018–2023. Cellar Selection. —J.G.
abv: 14.7% Price: $40
91
Stags’ Leap Winery 2013 Petite Sirah (Napa
Valley). For full review see page 15.
abv: 14.1% Price: $45
91
Wolff 2014 Petite Sirah (Edna Valley). This is
a fascinating show of what a cooler climate
can do to this usually unctuous grape. Aromas of
Mediterranean spices, olives, leather, fresh forest
herbs, rose hips, dewy thyme, raw beef, black pepper
and soy lead into a sip full of gamy funk. Think
rare lamb and venison, set against tart elderberry
and pine sap, that coat the mouth with sticky tannins.
Editors’ Choice. —M.K.
abv: 13.9% Price: $28
90
Jacob Franklin 2012 Hayne Vineyard Petite
Sirah (Napa Valley). Aged in all-new American
oak, this vineyard-designate is light bodied and
restrained, a nice surprise for the variety. Soft, simple
and bright, it shows a warmth of plum cake and
Christmas spice, ending in a rainfall of black pepper.
A nuanced, quiet wine, it should be enjoyed in its
youth. —V.B.
abv: 13.6% Price: $75
90
Klinker Brick 2014 Petite Sirah (Lodi). This
wine has all the deep, dark color and firm
tannins that are expected, but it pleasantly sweetens
the blackberry flavors ever so slightly and
smooths the edges in terms of texture, for a big wine
that’s also quite friendly. —J.G.
abv: 15% Price: $25
95
SYRAH
Cordant 2014 Presqu’ile Vineyard Syrah
(Santa Maria Valley). For full review see
page 3.
abv: 14.3% Price: $42
95
Stolpman 2014 Originals Syrah (Ballard Canyon).
Very savory aromas of roasted lamb,
bacon fat, teriyaki and crushed pepper meet with
light blueberry and a touch of mint on the nose of
this delicious, well-rounded bottling by winemaker
Sashi Moorman from the vineyard’s oldest blocks.
The palate kicks off with a zesty acidity, then come
waves of black pepper-crusted beef roast, oregano,
bay leaf, dark plum fruit and lavender. The solid
structure ensures cellar potential but it’s ready to
drink today. Editors’ Choice. —M.K.
abv: 14.1% Price: $42
95
Terre Rouge 2013 Sentinel Oak Vineyard Pyramid
Block Syrah (Shenandoah Valley). This
gorgeous, concentrated, mouthfilling wine is delicious
to sip now but will certainly improve in the
cellar for a decade or more. Tempting black cherry
and boysenberry flavors seem to swell in the mouth,
while light baking-spice and black-pepper accents
weave in and out. Even on the finish it keeps surging
with dark fruits and spices. Cellar Selection. —J.G.
abv: 14.5% Price: $40
94
Alta Colina 2013 Toasted Slope Estate Syrah
(Adelaida District). Roasted and raw beef,
dried strawberry, crushed marjoram and salt-andpepper
seasonings show on this Syrah. Extremely
dark in the glass, it’s bolstered by 4% Grenache,
4% Mourvèdre and 2% Viognier. Elderberry fruit
kicks off the palate, following by pepper, coffee
grinds, espresso beans and dark-chocolate sauce,
surrounded by grippy tannins. —M.K.
abv: 15.5% Price: $48
94
Baker & Brain 2014 Le Mistral Vineyard Syrah
(Monterey County). The nose on this wine
from the dynamic duo of Fresno State professor/
winemaker Matt Brain and custom-crush manager/
winemaker Josh Baker is well integrated, showing
layers of dark berries, soy, dried violets, candied
blueberry and a touch of caramel. It’s soft and plush
on the palate, with touches of milk chocolate, candied
grapes and licorice. —M.K.
abv: 15.5% Price: $42
94
Golden Triangle 2013 Syrah (Paso Robles
Willow Creek District). For full review see
page 4.
abv: 14.9% Price: $55
94
Hecho por Ruben 2012 Harrison Clarke Vineyard
Syrah (Ballard Canyon). Ruben “The
Grape Whisperer” Solorzano may need a new cellar-oriented
nickname if he keeps turning out such
excellent bottlings. This offers lots of white and
black pepper on the nose alongside thyme, rosemary,
black plum, licorice, black olive, roast beef
and Mediterannean spice. The palate packs thyme,
peppercorn, dried sage, black and green olive,
espresso and green coffee beans atop underripe
blackberry and strong elderberry flavors. —M.K.
abv: 14.5% Price: $55
94
Jada Vineyard & Winery 2014 Jersey Girl
Syrah (Paso Robles Willow Creek District).
For full review see page 4.
abv: 15.5% Price: $55
94
Stolpman 2014 Angeli Syrah (Ballard Canyon).
As the Stolpman family’s top-of-theline
bottling each vintage, this wine impresses on
all fronts. Candied boysenberry, dried lilac, snapped
dark chocolate and hints of dried mint show on
the nose. The entry into the palate is refined and
soft with juicy mulberry and elderberry fruit plus
touches of thyme and forest floor. Firm but polished
tannins and a decent dose of acidity ensure long
drinkability. Drink now–2029. Cellar Selection.
—M.K.
abv: 14.1% Price: $68
94
Wedell Cellars 2012 Manchester Vineyard
Syrah (Arroyo Grande Valley). There’s a lot
to love in this bottling for those who enjoy coolerclimate
Syrah. But the tons of cracked black pepper,
asphalt and gamy funk meet with enough elderberry
and lavender to appeal to others as well. The palate
packs a wide array of flavors, from anise to lavender
to cracked peppercorn, with savory tar, dried elderberry
and even some elderflower showing as well.
—M.K.
abv: 14.5% Price: $70
93
Caliza 2013 Syrah (Paso Robles Willow Creek
District). Dark in the glass, this wine by Carl
Bowker offers fragrant vanilla, baked blueberry, a
touch of pepper and coffee-cocoa foam on the rich
and inviting nose. Hearty blueberry and blackberry
fruit flavors are lifted by baking spice, bound to a
tart, tannic, black-plum-skin-like structure. —M.K.
abv: 15.7% Price: $62
93
Foxen 2014 Tinaquaic Vineyard Syrah (Santa
Maria Valley). Violets, bacon fat and caramel
sauce are drizzled across blueberry and olallieberry
fruits on the nose of this bottling from Billy Wathen
and Dick Dore. The palate is expertly integrated and
deep with flavors of blackberry, pepper dust, tart
black-plum skins, cocoa powder and roasted pork.
It conveys classic Syrah flavors, done with grace.
—M.K.
abv: 15% Price: $48
93
Foxen 2014 Williamson-Dore Vineyard Syrah
(Los Olivos District). Dark boysenberry,
dried lilac and the slightest touch of tar show on
the nose of this bottling, one of the first that Foxen
30 | WINE ENTHUSIAST | MARCH 2017