2018 Bouquet Garni Syrah
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Morlet doesn’t make much of it, but their Syrah is beautiful and well worth seeking out. The 2018 Syrah Bouquet Garni comes from the cool climate, higher elevation Bennett Valley in Sonoma and offers a big, exotic nose of blackberry and blackcurrant fruits as well sandalwood, dried flowers, new leather, and white pepper. The fruit is ripe and opulent, yet it still holds onto loads of classic cooler-climate Syrah gaminess and peppery notes. Full-bodied on the palate, it’s balanced and has a lively, clean texture, beautiful depth of fruit, and a great finish. Enjoy bottles any time over the coming decade.
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Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
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In 2018, the Syrah Bouquet Garni is quite fruity and forward, with plenty of immediacy, but less of the savory Bennett Valley energy of some prior vintages. I would give it a few years in bottle to see how things develop. Hints of red berry fruit, rose petal, mint and sage start to open with a bit of time in the glass. It will be interesting to see where the 2018 goes and if it acquires more varietal character especially in its aromatics.
The Syrah Bouquet Garni is made from 100% Syrah, from a field selection of three Syrah clones planted to a vineyard in Sonoma’s Bennett Valley. Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 Syrah Bouquet Garni opens with tantalizing notes of crushed black cherries, black raspberries and ripe plums with hints of kirsch, lilacs, star anise and garrigue. The medium-bodied palate offers fantastic energy and tension, laden with black and red fruit layers and loads of pepper and spice sparks. Framed by ripe rounded tannins, it finishes long and perfumed. 135 cases were made.