2005 Syrah Pangea Apalta Vineyards
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Tasting notes
They had to work on vine vigour. They have 5,500 vines per ha so they try to limit fruit per vine. 100% Syrah on granitic red clay with mineral deposits, such as quartz and iron. Hillside vineyard at an altitude of 250-300 m. Grapes were hand-harvested into small cases. After an ageing period of 20 months in fine-grain French oak barrels (60% new), the wine was left to mature in bottle. Dark crimson. Bit more obvious, sweeter and chunkier on the nose than the 2011. Less refined. There is pleasure here but the fruit and the tannin are much less integrated. (JR)
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Jay S Miller, Wine Advocate
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The 2005 Syrah Pangea Apalta Vineyards offers up a superb bouquet of pain grille, pencil lead, spice box, especially pepper, and blueberry pie. On the palate there are layers of savory blue fruits, succulence, enough structure to evolve for 2-3 years, excellent concentration and a pure finish. It will be in its prime from 2010 to 2017. Although Ventisquero is one of Chile’s larger producers, they have continued to focus on quality as attested to by the fact that Aurelio Montes and John Duval (former head of Penfolds’ Grange program) are consultants. That said, only 8 of 18 wines merited a recommendation. Importer: Austral Wines LLC, Atlanta, GA; tel. (770) 395-1201