2015 Foothills Reserve Syrah
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Tasting notes
(25% new oak): Dark medium ruby. Rather Hermitage-like aromas of blackberry, licorice pastille, violet and slate. Less high-toned, aromatic and open-knit than the Syrah In the Hills, with its dark berry and spice flavors complicated by saline oyster shell and slatey mineral notes. Rather brooding and backward in the early going but still glossy and smooth--and not particularly oaky. Finishes firmly tannic but not dry, with lovely savory length and noteworthy vibrancy and lift. In a distinctly Old World style, and not particularly sweet. (Matt Reynvaan also showed me an early barrel sample of a component of the 2017 Foothills Reserve. With its knockout scents of dark raspberry, gunflint, iodine and mocha; its superb concentration and sweetness--and flavor of bloody rare steak; and its compellingly long, sweet, vibrant finish, this was one of the most exciting lots of Washington Syrah in an Old World style that I have tasted to date. Stay tuned.) (14.2% alcohol)
Critic scores
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2015 Syrah Foothills Reserve reveals an exotic, roasted bouquet of espresso, rich soil and grilled meats, with blackberry and cassis fruit lurking in the background. On the palate, it's medium-bodied, rich and very savory, with a fine-grained, saline and somewhat fleeting finish. This verged on being simply too savory even for me, and I don't think it's a benchmark vintage for this bottling.
The 2015 Foothills Reserve is 100% Syrah from the estate vineyard located around the winery. It’s one of the more tight and reserved in the lineup, yet has tons of potential. Ripe red and black fruits, spice, smoked game, tapenade, and peppery notes all emerge from this full-bodied, rich, concentrated Syrah that has sweet tannin and moderate acidity. Give it a year or two and enjoy over the following decade.
(14.2% alcohol): Dark ruby. Wonderfully deep, complex yet brooding aromas of blackberry, black raspberry, duck fat, smoked meat and fruity black peppercorn; smells like a butcher shop. Wonderfully dense, savory wine with a seamless texture and little easy sweetness. There's lurking dark berry fruit here but today the wine is dominated by its salty meaty qualities and an earthy suggestion of mushroom. The slowly rising, very long finish features serious horizontal tannins and plenty of supporting fruit.