2012 The Tribe Vineyard Syrah
Buying options
Tasting notes
The 2012 Syrah The Tribe Vineyard was made with around 85% whole clusters and matured for 15 months in used demi-muids and foudres. Initial touches of tar and chargrill give way to blackcurrant, blueberry, green pepper and violet on the nose. The full-bodied palate offers concentrated, dark fruit flavors and soaring floral character. It’s structured by powerful, powdery tannins and fireworks of fresh acidity and has a very long, layered finish. It’s surprisingly youthful and will continue to develop over the next 10-15 years in the cellar. 463 cases produced.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
This shows a beautiful beef and dark-fruit character with hints of sweet tobacco as well as plums and dried violet-like florals. The palate delivers impressive concentration with a wealth of blackberries and dark plums, cocoa powder and graphite. Super fresh, lithe and long. Drink or hold.
From The Rocks. Tasted blind. Mid dark crimson. Mulberries and a little bit of reduction. Falls away on the end. But correct enough. Cool and luscious. Good freshness. Smoked meat. Sweet. (JR)
(14.1% alcohol; as with the Echalas Vineyard, the Tribe is cultivated with draft horses): Dark ruby. Aromas of black cherry, liquefied lamb tartare, paprika and black licorice, plus a note of medicinal reserve. Hugely sweet and concentrated but carrying a good bit of unabsorbed CO2 and showing less finesse today than the Cayuse Syrah bottlings from the 2012 vintage. Inky and primary, with strong underlying minerality. This is distinctly Brune while the Echalas Syrah is more Blonde. Finishes with substantial ripe tannins and a slight bitter edge that will require cellaring.