Syrah Wine

Wine Spectator, 93 points: Ripe and peppery, with a spicy note weaving over the black cherry, dried tomato, licorice and mint flavors that keep pulsing through the long, expressive finish. Best from 2010 through 2017. 3,500 cases made. –HS

jebdunnuck.com, 97 points: As with the ’14, the 2012 Syrah Rodgers Creek Vineyard saw a whopping 10% Viognier. It’s still young and offers a sensational perfume of currants, smoked meats, olives, spices, and crushed flowers. It’s a full-bodied...

Wine Spectator, 91 points: Dense and concentrated, with cassis, blackberry and dried cherry flavors that have an appealing chewy, rustic profile, with plenty of charm to the tobacco, spice and black tea flavors, lingering harmoniously. Drink now...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 98 points: 98+ As expected, the 2011 Ermitage l’Ermite, which comes from the lieu-dit of the same name, is more backward and focused, with a slightly closed, tight profile. Slowly giving up ample cassis and black raspberry fruit...

jamessuckling.com, 98 points: (JS 97-98 points) Very spicy and peppery with blue-granite aromas plus hints of grilled and smoked meat. Cloves and nutmeg. Full body, round and juicy tannins and a super spicy finish that almost burns with so much...

Wine & Spirits, 92 points: My initial tasting note for this wine read “feral, sexy, dark, dark, dark.” That sums up this cassis-scented red from the Klipsun and Ciel du Cheval vineyards, a warm fruit compote of a wine with a dark leather fringe...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 95 points: A blockbuster Saint Joseph that’s up there with the crème de la crème of the appellation, the 2012 Saint Joseph Sainte Epine offers awesome notes of crème de cassis, toasted spice, licorice and vanilla bean. Slightly...

Wine Spectator, 94 points: Tightly packed but rippling with energy, this has a coiled core of raspberry, bitter plum and violet notes, augmented by black tea, savory and sweet tapenade flavors. The long finish pulls everything together, maintaining...

jebdunnuck.com, 97 points: The 2015 Côte Rôtie La Landonne from Delas is a seamless, gorgeously balanced Côte Rôtie that reminds me of the 2011. Offering classic notes of smoked meats, currants, graphite, chocolate and roasted herbs, this beauty...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 96 points: Coming from the upper part of Cornas and seeing 24 months in 400-500 Liter barrels (none new), the 2012 Cornas Domaine du Coulet Billes Noires is an incredible effort that’s up with the crème de la crème of the vintage...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 96 points: The 2013 Syrah Per Sempre is another gorgeous wine from Tua Rita. This estate on the Tuscan Coast offers one of Italy's top Syrahs. In vintages like this, it is in the running for the number one spot among Italian...

Vinous, 94 points: 94+ The 2012 Suzuri Syrah Soberanes Vineyard has closed down quite a bit since I tasted it from barrel last year. Dark red plums, savory herbs, rose petals, mint, spices and orange rind are all very much alive in this...

Wine Spectator, 93 points: Powerfully built, with a brooding personality lingering under the structure of tannins. Aromas of currant and river rock combine with complex, dense flavors of blackberry, licorice and espresso. Hands off for now. Best...

Vinous, 96 points: (VM94-96 points) Bright purple. Intensely perfumed blackberry and cherry liqueur aromas are complicated by suggestions of Asian spices, fennel and incense. Juicy, expansive black and blue fruit flavors show excellent...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 94 points: D'Arenberg's 2009 The Dead Arm Shiraz is evolving slowly and beautifully. Floral, dusty aromas akin to rose hips feature on the nose, followed by flavors of cranberries and chocolate. Still a bit tight and tart, it's...