2015 Reynvaan Family Syrah In The Hills

Fermented with 6% Viognier, the 2015 Syrah In The Hills is already very expressive, bursting with aromas of ripe blackberries, dark chocolate, grilled meats, lavender and black olive. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, rich and lavish, paradoxically fresh and mouthwateringly saline despite its low acidity, with a savory core of fruit and a nicely delineated finish.

The 2015 In The Hills is 95% Syrah and 5% Viognier (all cofermented) and it’s one of the larger production releases, with 600 cases made. Deep ruby/plum colored with notes of blackcurrants, scorched earth, tobacco, and pepper, this beauty hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, plenty of amplitude and depth, and a big finish that makes you salivate. It’s a complex, ripe, sexy wine from this estate to drink over the coming decade.

(14.4% alcohol): Dark ruby-red. Explosive nose offers scents of black raspberry, licorice, smoked meat and pepper, plus a sexy suggestion of white stone fruits from the Viognier component. Plush, layered and sweet; more opulent than the 2014 version. Perhaps a touch warm on the back end but displays noteworthy slowly building length. This is actually Reynvaan's introductory Syrah, meant to be aromatic and approachable early. It's bottled prior to the next harvest, whereas the other Syrahs here typically get an élevage of 18 months.