2017 Syrah Wine

jebdunnuck.com, 94 points: This terroir always delivers a wild, opulent, gamey style of wine, and the 2017 Crozes-Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert doesn’t disappoint. Loads of chocolaty black fruits, ground pepper, truffle, and smoked game, as well...

jebdunnuck.com, 99 points: From a higher, east-facing vineyard, the 2017 Saint-Joseph Le Clos is almost black and is the most concentrated, powerful Saint Joseph in the vintage. Blackcurrants, cassis, kirsch, ground herbs, beef blood, burning...

jebdunnuck.com, 96 points: More reserved but no less brilliant, the 2017 Shiraz Lily's Garden comes from the McLaren Vale and spent 18 months in just 9% new French oak. Classic Syrah notes of dark black fruits, damp herbs, scorched earth, and...

Decanter, 92 points: From Caroline Frey, also of Bordeaux’s Château La Lagune, this has a savoury nose and a lively blackcurrant and berry palate boasting black pepper spiciness. Serious, but smooth and supple, and ever so easy to drink.

jamessuckling.com, 92 points: A rich shiraz with plenty of ripe blackberry and plum aromas and flavors, as well as baking spices. Quite long, plush and assertive tannins. Drink or hold. Screw cap.

jebdunnuck.com, 98 points: Deep purple-colored, the 2017 Côte Rôtie La Mordorée (a mix from the La Côte Brune and the Côte Blonde lieux-dits) is another incredibly concentrated, yet elegant and ethereal wine from Chapoutier. Rock star levels of...

Wine Spectator, 94 points: Deep and powerfully built, with a rich and polished texture that highlights wild berry and blueberry flavors that show notes of espresso, smoky beef and black pepper. Finishes with big but refined tannins. Syrah and...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 94 points: (WA 91-94 points) Robert owns four hectares in Cornas, divided into many small parcels along the slope. My projection for his 2017 Cornas is based on tasting a few components from barrel, which expressed varying elements...

jamessuckling.com, 93 points: Such deep, plum-essence and licorice aromas here with cassis and blackcurrant pastille on offer. The palate has a very succulent and gently grainy tannin core, as well as plums and ripe blackberries to close. Drink or hold.

Wine Spectator, 97 points: This has an old-school persona, with a dusty sandalwood and cedar frame around a mix of mulled plum and black cherry fruit, showing bay leaf, leather and savory notes. A smoldering dark earth accent runs through the...

Wine Spectator, 92 points: Opulent and open-knit, with silky black cherry, mocha and orange peel accents that dance on a long and supple finish. Drink now through 2028. 150 cases made. — TF

jebdunnuck.com, 97 points: Leading off the two Syrahs, the 2017 Syrah Cinematique comes from a great vineyard in the Ballard Canyon AVA and was destemmed and aged 20 months in 60% new French oak. Sexy notes of black raspberries, vanilla bean, bay...

jebdunnuck.com, 95 points: (95+ points) The 2017 Crozes-Ermitage Les Varonniers is a wild beauty with Hermitage notes of blackberries, cassis, crushed rock, game, and burning embers. It has plenty of upfront, sexy fruit yet is concentrated...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 97 points: Archetypal Les Bessards, the Delas 2017 Hermitage Les Bessards boasts rich, deep cassis fruit accented by hints of crushed stone and pencil shavings. It's full-bodied, ripe yet firm, with great energy, freshness and...

jebdunnuck.com, 99 points: (96-99 points) I loved the 2017 Côte Rôtie Château D'Ampuis. It’s a ripe, expressive barrel sample overflowing with notions of black raspberries, cassis, vanilla bean, and incense. Medium to full-bodied, rounded, and...