A blend of 92% Syrah, 5% Grenache Noir, 1% Viognier, 1% Roussanne, and 1% Mourvèdre, this wine is totally off the charts. According to Wine Enthusiast’s Matt Ketterman, “This is a very satisfying Syrah for a rather stunning price. Lush and generous aromas of baked berry, hot spice cake and a touch of crushed rock show on the nose. The palate is brooding in cassis, boysenberry pudding and baking spice flavors, framed by impressively deep tannins.” I salivate just reading the description, complemented by the sky-high rating of 93 points. (The magazine also gave the wine its “Best Buy of 2023” award.) Confirmingly, 93 points is exactly what The Tasting Panel also gave the wine, saying “You would be hard-pressed to find another Syrah at this price with such admirable qualities: Grapes grown on lime-laden and gravelly soils exude texture, color, and flavor that wines four times the cost are lucky to achieve. Showing hearty notes of violets, slate, and balsamic, the palate of this concentrated red is lined in satin, with sumptuous flavors of dark chocolate, sweet earth, white pepper, and blueberry.” The SRP of $15 is ridiculous, which is why retailers are asking as much as $25 or more for a bottle. I’ve also seen it for as little as $12.99 on line. Buy this stuff by the case. It should last for five years, I believe, but no critics have yet weighed in on that issue.
