Syrah 'En Cerise'

Score

96

"Arresting wood smoke and cured ham aromas lead to incredibly concentrated, earthy, meaty flavors matched by blackberries and black pepper that seem to swell on the palate and accelerate through the finish. Co-fermented with a small amount of viognier and aged in mostly neutral French, larger-format oak casks. From biodynamically grown grapes. Best from 2029."

Score

97

"Ripe black cherries, darker raspberries, sappy flowers, shiitake mushrooms, and a kiss of black pepper all define the 2021 Syrah En Cerise Vineyard, an incredibly pure, seamless, elegant Syrah from this estate. It's always a perfumed, exotic wine, yet the 2021 shines for its incredible purity, precision, and length. It benefits from air and will drink beautifully over the coming 15 years or more."

Score

96

"Wickedly fresh, the 2021 Syrah En Cerise Vineyard opens with a dark mix of wilted violets, ashen stones, rubbed sage and musky currants. It's juicy and round with masses of black cherry fruits underscored by saline minerals and exotic spice, as a core of vibrant acidity maintains amazing lift despite its power and size. This leaves a balsamic and cocoa tinge, tapering off long and staining with edgy tannins and a resonance of black olive that lingers."

Score

95

"The 2021 Syrah en Cerise displays a medium ruby hue with a soft garnet edge. It features sappy black cherry and sour plum notes complemented by spicy herbs and hung meat, offering an earthy, robust character. On the medium-bodied palate, dusty flowers and iodine unfold to firm, gripping tannins that lead to a finish marked by notes of smoked cherries. Best enjoyed with food. This Syrah spent 18 months aging, with approximately 20% of the wine resting in new French oak. A total of 4,548 bottles were made."

Score

95

"Blackberries were no surprise. The aromas of meat and caraway seeds uniting to create a pastrami perfume however, were. The wine's blackberry-compote, rosemary and lavender-water flavors are equally captivating. The En Cerise shows a deft hand, with restrained alcohol, crisp acidity and velvety tannins. The En Cerise does not roar, it purrs. —M.A."