2017 Reynvaan Family Syrah Stonessence

All Syrah that was fermented with 25% stems and aged in 35% new oak, the 2017 Stonessence offers a stunning bouquet of crème de cassis and blackberry fruits interwoven with classic Rocks notes of cured meats, lavender, tobacco, and olives. With medium to full-bodied richness, a beautifully polished, balanced texture, and a great finish, it ranks with the top wines in the vintage. Drink bottles any time over the coming 10-15 years.

Rounded and weighty nose. Leather and sweet cinnamon spice with a good level of tannins behind it. A cooling element tames the alcohol on the finish. Opulent but enjoyable in style. (AC)

Bright, dark ruby. Very dark, high-pitched flavors of blackberry, cassis, licorice and violet, plus notes of bitter chocolate and cocoa powder. Sappy, pliant, rich and subtly sweet on the palate; a bit warmer than the last few wines but with plenty of supporting extract. Pure dark fruit flavors are enlivened by strong minerality and rocky character while avoiding the saltiness and high-pH mouthfeel of so many Syrahs from The Rocks. Finishes with ripe tannins and a late note of black olive. This dense, fine-grained wine struck me as less funky than the 2016 version and likely to gain in complexity with bottle aging. (14.3% alcohol, which is high for this bottling; 20% new oak)