TASTING NOTES:
Lastly, the 2014 Syrah IX Estate has this incredibly fragrant, flowery bouquet that makes it seem as if there were some Viognier co-fermented with it, but it’s always 100% Syrah coming from their steep vineyards. Oodles of honeysuckle, blackberry, black cherry, graphite and some exotic white fruits seem present in this full-bodied, lush, savory, sexy and intense wine that is irresistible in 2014, and for that reason, destined to be drunk in its first 10-15 years, although I suspect it could last longer.
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 95 pts
Potent and brooding, yet polished, with plum, smoky beef and cracked pepper flavors that build depth and tension toward big but refined tannins. Drink now through 2025
- Wine Spectator, 94 pts
WINEMAKER'S NOTES:
The 2014 “IX Estate” Syrah is a rich, sumptuous blend of old world and new world. Its perfume has an enticingly seductive lift of tangerine that is complemented by aromas of dark chocolate, dried flowers, and white pepper. Saline notes of oyster shell and tapenade weave together with iron mineral notes from the “IX Estate” volcanic soils. Flavors of grilled steak fat, cured meats, and blackberry cobbler lead to a melting and succulent texture on entry. The palate is coated with an exceptionally smooth tannin that is dense and deeply layered.
