2021 Hors Categorie Syrah
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Tasting notes
The seductively savory 2021 Syrah Hors Catégorie Vineyard mixes richness with grace, blossoming in the glass with a perfumed bouquet that blends lavender pastille and mint with salt-cured meats, sagebrush and dusty blackcurrants. Elegant and enveloping, this comes across in waves of weighted silk, showing ripe blackberries, blueberries and exotic spices elevated by a core of fresh acidity. A cascade of sweet tannins mingles with hints of olive and violet pastille as the 2021 finishes with outstanding length and concentration.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Eric Guido, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2021 Syrah is another pretty, perfumed example of this cuvée. All Syrah from a steep hillside vineyard (there are two parcels) on the north fork of the Walla Walla River, its ruby semi-opaque hue is followed by a beautiful nose of framboise, redcurrants, flowers, peppered meats, lavender, and hints of shiitake mushrooms. It picks up a certain Graves-like scorched earth/cold fireplace character with air, and this beauty hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a supple, incredibly elegant mouthfeel, and ultra-fine tannins. It needs lots of air if drinking any time soon and will ideally be given 5-7 years of bottle age. I'd be shocked if it didn't evolve gracefully for at least two decades.
The 2021 Syrah is open and expressive, initially bursting with a ripe, seductive nose that slowly unfurls from the glass. Impeccably layered, it features fresh red and purple flowers intertwining with notes of charred beef tenderloin, dusty plums and black cherry essence. Medium-bodied, the palate is fresh, elegant and espresso-tinged, revealing layers of umami and turned earth. Savory essences emerge with beautifully balanced tannins and acidity, culminating in notes of charred plum skin with graphite. You'll be tempted to open this far too soon; decanting is surely in order if you do. Crafted from 100% Syrah, this wine was aged in a combination of neutral and third-fill demi-muids for 18 months before bottling. 3,756 bottles were made.