Judge Family Vineyard Syrah

Popped and poured; enjoyed over an hour period. The 2017 “Judge Family Vineyard” leaps right out of the gate and stands with proud, unwavering confidence. It pours a deep ruby/purple with a near opaque core. Medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears. On the nose, a lovely, powerful mix of ripe black and blue fruits: dark brambles, blueberries, deli-case, black pepper, lavender, new leather, and soft baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. There is deft balance here. The fruit is so beautiful, so pure and the structure plays the equitable supporting role, no pun intended. The finish is long and there is sublime texture. This is a statement wine from Tynan and consistent with my previous experience from 18 months ago. Drink now through 2037.

Popped and poured. At this stage the 2015 Judge Family Syrah pours an opaque, ruby color with some obvious staining of the tears. On the nose, clean and youthful with developing vinosity. Stewed red and blue fruits, dark brambles, purple flowers, bacon fat, dry caked earth, stale potpourri, rotondun, and cigar box. On the palate, the wine is dry and all of the notes from the nose are confirmed and accompanied by dark bramble fruit with some chocolate and smoked meat. Tannins are medium+, acid is medium+…and so is alcohol. The finish is long and tart…but more like a SweetTart. This is a very sexy wine with everything in the right places and the moves to match.

An experience I've looked forward to each of the last four years, this is my first impression of the most recent release of Judge Family Vineyard Syrah from Christopher Tynan. Popped and poured, the 2017 vintage pours a deep purple color with an utterly opaque core. Medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears. The nose alone is spellbinding. Bursting with black and blue fruits; blackberries over blueberries over dark plums along with veritable fields of lavender. A deli case packed with saucisson encrusted with Herbs de Provence. There’s some rotundone and some very pretty hints of vanilla bean for good measure. It’s hard to imagine the palate being quite as exciting and yet, this wine keeps delivering more. The aforementioned fruit-set is confirmed and stuffs the mouth in beautifully ripened fruit. Again, the lavender and vanilla are well on display with some olive and black pepper in the mix too. The wine is bone dry with gritty tannins that I would place at medium+. The acid, which I would also place at medium+, acts as a bustier, giving everything a real proper and sexy lift. The finish is Ben-Hur in length and significance. Coming as no surprise, the 2017 is a worthy follow-up to the previous three vintages from this vineyard which, under the supervision of Tynan, has become for me, one of the greatest Syrahs from California. Better with some air, this can be enjoyed now but will be fabulous for years to come. My next bottle after 2027.

Decanted for three hours and then transferred back to the bottle so we could more easily transport to a friend’s place. Consumed over the next several hours. I gotta say, this was magnificent and really blurs the lines between northern Rhône and California Syrah. Glass-staining purple with a powerful bouquet of blue fruits, bacon fat, lavender, smoke and some baking spice. On the palate, it was beautifully ripened blue and red fruits with olive loaf mortadella. One of the most distinctive characteristics however was the unique texture...like the softest corduroy imaginable: tactile yet velvety. Hard to explain but it is awesome. Tannins are very present but not overly obtrusive; a bit like State Troopers at a large sporting event; stern but fair. There’s good acid and the finish is long and makes me want to smack my tongue on the roof of my mouth. What a delicious new world Syrah with a very bright future ahead. Drink now with an extended decant or hold. I expect this will drink very well for decades to come.

The first bottle of Christopher Tynan Judge Family Vineyard Syrah that I ever had an opportunity to drink met an untimely demise when it fell through the bottom of my brother’s cardboard wine carrier and shattered on the driveway. What I recall from that rather unfortunate mishap was how wonderful it smelled as it slowly streamed down the cracks of the concrete. So, I was elated to open this bottle of the most recent vintage. Decanted for two hours. From the first pour, the bouquet did not disappoint. Strong aromas of meat, lavender, dark berries, dates, figs, anise...it was a feast for the olfactory system. On the palate it was tightly wound and unwilling to fully express itself. This is a powerfully tannic wine with the stuffing and structure to last in the cellar for a long time. Make no mistake, this is delicious in its youth but an extended decant (full day) would be prudent at this stage to get the most out of it. Otherwise, let these sleep.

Yummy @Paul Treadway Huntington Beacher @Mike Smith @Connor McMahon @Warren Sapp @Walter Sorensen @Terri Walker @TheSkip @David L

I guess I liked this more than some others. It has that unmistakable BBQ smoke and blackberry Syrah thing going on. I loved it. I'd bet on this developing nicely for a couple of decades. Bravo

Cannot get over the nose. Could smell this allll night loooonnnggg.

Great nose and a finish that stays with you for minutes, just keep chewing & chewing .

that nose tho