2018 Reynvaan Family Syrah The Contender
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Tasting notes
The 2018 Syrah The Contender contains 2% Marsanne and was made using 25% whole clusters. Erupting with aromas of dark cherry, dusty plum and spiced blackberry reduction, elegant floral tones waft from the glass with seductive brown baking spices. Medium-bodied and with 13.3% alcohol, the palate is fresh, clean and delineated with immaculate precision and ripe, juicy notions with no hard edges. The wine somersaults to an elongated, evolving finish. The wine spent 18 months in 25% new barrels. It's devastatingly gorgeous and is worth the effort to seek out a bottle for yourself. Almost 4,000 bottles produced.
Critic scores
Average Score
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
Exotic plums and berry fruits as well as ground pepper, violets, and sous bois nuances define the 2018 Syrah The Contender, which is 98% Syrah and 2% Marsanne, all aged 18 months in 25% new oak. Medium to full-bodied and just pure silk on the palate, it has fine, polished tannins, wonderful purity, and a great, great finish. It has the classic Rocks high pH and sexy texture, but don’t let that fool you, it will age gracefully.
Bright dark red. Raspberry, pepper, charcoal and spices on the nose; missing the Marsanne white fruit notes frequently shown by this bottling. A supple, savory wine of modest depth and dimension, with herb and pepper notes dominating the wine's red fruit flavors. A bit pinched on the back end. Offers decent texture but limited real concentration, ripeness and complexity. Slightly green throughout but suppler than the In the Rocks Vineyard Syrah bottling. (13.3% alcohol)