2009 Gramercy Cellars Syrah Lagniappe
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Tasting notes
A wine I’ve had many times, the 2009 Syrah Lagniappe continues to show brilliantly and offers up knockout aromas of plum preserve, lavender, crushed, flowers and olive to go with a medium to full-bodied, round, supple palate that never loses its edge or definition. I love it now, yet it will easily evolve for another decade. Drink now-2019. These top-notch efforts are made by Greg Harrington, with help from assistant winemaker Brandon Moss, and always show the fresher, more edgy and lean side to the region. Normally fermented with varying degrees of whole cluster and aged in neutral oak, they have Old World, classical profiles and will benefit from short-term cellaring. While I’ve been drinking the Rhone blends from this estate for years, this was the first time I’ve been able to taste Greg’s Bordeaux releases. The house style certainly persists and the wines all show firm, concentrated and age-worthy profiles. From a much warmer vintage, Harrington’s 2009s are more voluptuous and textured than the 2010s, yet still play in the same classically styled ball park of the estate. While more approachable today, I think they will have a similar, if not broader, drink window than the 2010s. Time will tell but at the moment, I generally like the 2009s more due to their fruit, yet I still think the tannin quality in the 2010s is better. Tel. (509) 876-2427; www.gramercycellars.com
Critic scores
Average Score
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
Showing even better from bottle than barrel (or, said in another way, I under rated it), the 2009 Gramercy Cellars Syrah "Lagniappe" (100% Syrah fermented with 15% whole cluster) is a smoking Syrah that shows the cooler-climate side to Washington State Syrah. Meaty, gamey, and complex, with loads of sweet raspberry and blackberry fruit, ground pepper, smoked meats, lavender, and wild herb like aromas on the nose, it is medium to full-bodied on the palate, with a layered texture, juicy acidity, and a round, seamless, and surprisingly supple profile. It’s impressive now, yet will be even better in 3-4 years, and drink well for 12-15.
Bright ruby-red. Captivating aromas of raspberry, smoked meat, cinnamon, black olive, black pepper, lilac and violet. Quite tight on the palate today, with a sweet/tart impression to the flavors of red fruits, meat and pepper. This very savory, firm, varietally accurate syrah will need time in bottle to harmonize and will merit an even higher score if it develops more flesh and sweetness.