Syrah 'Cailloux'

Score

96

Score

96

"What an aromatic nose of violets, peppercorns, olives, green plums, wet earth and ash. Touch of peaches on the palate, which is sleek, with focused tannins and long, powerful and peppery layers. Medium- to full-bodied and continuous. Syrah co-fermented with about 5% viognier. The syrah is around 70% whole-cluster fermented. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink now or hold."

Score

98

"Meatier red and black fruits, smoke, ground pepper, and savory herb notes all define the 2021 Syrah Cailloux Vineyard, a concentrated, medium to full-bodied Syrah with a classic Northern Rhône-like style in its aromas as well as structure. Fermented with a splash of Viognier, it picks up violet and floral notes with time in the glass, and this darker, more gamey expression of this vineyard is a dead ringer for a great Côte Rôtie. I love it today (with a decant), but it's going to benefit from 2-4 years in the cellar and evolve for 15 years or more."

Score

95

"Black tea leaves combine with violets, white pepper, blood oranges and crushed olives as the 2021 Syrah Cailloux Vineyard smolders up from the glass. This is a model of purity, lifted and refined, with silken textures and masses of mineral-infused black fruits. Salty tones resonate through the finish as the 2021 tapers off with a pleasantly bitter tinge and a sensation of liquid stone. The Cailloux Vineyard is a co-fermented blend of 97% Syrah and 3% Viognier that refined for 18 months in 15-20% new French oak."

Score

96+

"Crafted with 3% Viognier, the 2021 Syrah Cailloux Vineyard boasts a deeply colored core. The nose is aromatic and floral, with dense notes of salami, black peppercorn spice and expressive herbals intertwined with turned-earth aromas. It offers additional nuances of baked earth, savory herbs and peppercorn spices. Medium to full-bodied, the palate unfolds with juicy, succulent and fresh characteristics, showcasing elegance alongside fine-grained tannins of this food-friendly Syrah. A total of 9,420 bottles were produced."

Score

97

"#24 Top 100 Cellar Selections 2024: It's only appropriate that a wine named after pebbles should have a distinct post-rain wet patio slate quality backing up aromas of blackberry, lilac and lychee. The thick palate is blessed with sturdy tannic structure and complex flavors of bone marrow, black cherry, peach and sweet Sun Gold tomatoes. ‡ Michael Alberty"