2010 Viña Casa Marin Syrah Miramar Vineyard

They age their Syrah for two years in barrel and then keep the bottles before releasing the wine, so I tasted the current vintage, which is the 2010 Syrah Miramar Vineyard. Even though, the nose is not very expressive and it feels a little closed, with shy aromas of bacon, olives and a slightly herbal twist. The palate reveals sharp acidity -- a cool climate Syrah with no more than 12% alcohol -- a somehow austere wine that should develop nicely in bottle, although it could do with a little more concentration. 12,000 bottles.

4 km from the ocean. From the Guillaume nursery. Some years it fails to ripen. 2006 was the first successful vintage. Their warmest, highest site is devoted to Syrah. Very low pH. Current release. Green harvest necessary to ensure maturity. Ambient yeast. 20 months in barrel. Very deep crimson. Race and energy on the nose – great transparency and purity on granite. Côte Rôtie effect. Very lively with the granite chewiness. I’m thinking Jamet. Bone dry. (JR)

(raised in 80% new French oak; 12% alcohol with a very low pH of 3.21): Bright ruby. Fresh blackberry and cassis aromas are given an exotic touch by notes of vanilla, spicecake and passion fruit. Spicy dark berry flavors show a seductively sweet quality and expand with air, with a tangy cherry pit note adding bite. Strikes a suave balance of richness and energy, finishing sappy, spicy and very long. Quite singular in style, with the depth and balance to age.