2009 Foxen Syrah Williamson-Dore Vineyard
Market price
Buying options
Tasting notes
A big, meaty Syrah that comes from the seven-acre Williamson- Doré vineyard on the eastern side of the Santa Ynez Valley, the 2009 Foxen Syrah Williamson-Doré Vineyard was aged for 22 months in 100% 500-liter Hungarian puncheons. The wine exhibits a beautifully spice-driven bouquet of red and black fruits, briar, smoked earth, and spice box aromas that give way to a more floral and complex profile over the evening. Medium to full-body on the palate, with sweet fruit, notable focus and freshness, and a dry, structured finish, this outstanding Syrah is approachable now, but will be even better with a year or two in bottle. It should drink nicely through 2021. While this was my least favorite of the trio on the first night, it was just stunning on the second and third day and it just might be the longest lived of the bunch.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
(made with the addition of 5% viognier): Opaque violet color. Black and blue fruits, violet and smoky oak on the assertively perfumed nose. Lush, sappy and palate-coating, with impressive depth to its blackberry and boysenberry flavors. Picks up notes of cracked pepper, candied flowers and licorice with air and finishes with serious power and smoky persistence. This syrah comes in at 14.5% alcohol, which is perfectly reasonable for these parts.
The 2009 Syrah Williamson Dore Vineyard (includes 5% Viognier) sweeps across the palate with layers of beautifully delineated dark fruit. White flowers, licorice and blueberries come together in this graceful, restrained wine. The supple, silky finish is quite attractive, yet this comes across as needing at least another year in bottle for all of the elements to fully harmonize. The Williamson Dore spent 16 months in 500-liter Hungarian oak barrels, 50% new.
The 2009 Syrah Williamson Dore Vineyard (includes 5% Viognier) sweeps across the palate with layers of beautifully delineated dark fruit. White flowers, licorice and blueberries come together in this graceful, restrained wine. The supple, silky finish is quite attractive, yet this comes across as needing at least another year in bottle for all of the elements to fully harmonize. The Williamson Dore spent 16 months in 500-liter Hungarian oak barrels, 50% new. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2021. I was blown away by the wines I tasted from Foxen. Low yields, late harvests, fully destemmed fruit and bottling with no fining or filtration are some of the elements that define these exceptional, fine wines. Tel. (805) 937-4251. www.foxenvineyard.com