2018 K Vintners Syrah Phil Lane
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Tasting notes
Bursting with a spicy, black-fruited core and baked earth, the 2018 Syrah Phil Lane Vineyard comes roaring out of the glass with a dense, chewy expression of freshly opened purple flowers and smoked herbs. Medium to full-bodied, the Syrah reveals a firm palate that will need another year in bottle to come together and allow time for the juicy yet firm tannic structure to settle. It ends with an elongated finish with a tannic edge and persistent flavors of spiced black raspberry compote and juicy plum skin. The wine rested for 22 months on the lees in 40% new French oak puncheons. Bravo, this is delicious. Just under 2,000 bottles were produced.
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Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Anthony Mueller, Wine Advocate
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Always one of my favorite Syrahs from Smith, the 2018 Syrah Phil Lane Vineyard comes from a tiny vineyard just to the east of the town of Walla Walla. If you've ever visited this estate before they moved to Seattle, this is from the vines around the house and old tasting room. One of the deeper-hued wines in the lineup, it boasts a great nose of meaty red and black fruits, tobacco, truffle, tapenade, and pot roast-like nuances. Possessing full-bodied richness, a round, layered texture, ripe tannins, and a great finish, this meaty, gamey, complex, and singular Syrah is going to keep for 10-15 years. As I've written in the past, if you see a bottle, you should buy it!