Tenet Wines
The Pundit Columbia Valley Syrah
Columbia Valley, Oregon/Washington, USA
This hedonistic Syrah boasts kirsch, licorice and espresso scents and flavors, complicated by spices, dried herbs and a whiff of smoked meat, with its almost jammy sweetness leavened by a savory quality. A perennial Syrah value, the 2017 is especially plush, ripe and silky. $25.00 (Stephen Tanzer, Vinous, November 2020)
This hedonistic Syrah boasts kirsch, licorice and espresso scents and flavors, complicated by spices, dried herbs and a whiff of smoked meat, with its almost jammy sweetness leavened by a savory quality. A perennial Syrah value, the 2017 is especially plush, ripe and silky. $25.00 (Stephen Tanzer, Vinous, November 2020)
Nov 23rd, 2020
There is a lot here for just $20. Chocolate and spice hits you first out of the bottle but then fades to a more subdued dark fruit and pepper combo. It’s dense and lush, lingers long, and finishes well. Like an old friend that comes to dinner and brings a long diverse conversation to the table.
There is a lot here for just $20. Chocolate and spice hits you first out of the bottle but then fades to a more subdued dark fruit and pepper combo. It’s dense and lush, lingers long, and finishes well. Like an old friend that comes to dinner and brings a long diverse conversation to the table.
Jan 7th, 2020
A very tasty Syrah from Washington State. A nice collaboration of Michel Gassier and château Ste Michelle.
Showing black fruits with chocolates, earth, oak, licorice, metals, tobacco, coke, spices, light vegetables, pencil lead and peppercorn.
Dry on the palate with medium acidity and long legs.
Long spicy finish with round tannins and cherries.
Good by itself or with food. Needs time to open up properly and show the tannins.
Spicy and bold. Well balanced with nice complexity.
Still young and needs 3 to 5 years to mature properly, but so yummy already.
Mainly Syrah grapes with some Grenache, Mourvedre and Viognier.
14.5% alcohol by volume.
92 points.
$20.
A very tasty Syrah from Washington State. A nice collaboration of Michel Gassier and château Ste Michelle.
Showing black fruits with chocolates, earth, oak, licorice, metals, tobacco, coke, spices, light vegetables, pencil lead and peppercorn.
Dry on the palate with medium acidity and long legs.
Long spicy finish with round tannins and cherries.
Good by itself or with food. Needs time to open up properly and show the tannins.
Spicy and bold. Well balanced with nice complexity.
Still young and needs 3 to 5 years to mature properly, but so yummy already.
Mainly Syrah grapes with some Grenache, Mourvedre and Viognier.
14.5% alcohol by volume.
92 points.
$20.
2015 vintage. Columbia Valley, Washington State. 89 %Syrah, 5% Grenache, 4% Mourvèdre and 2%Viognier. Aged 13 months in mostly neutral French and a bit of American oak. Dark purplish colour, blueberry jam and fresh herbs in the nose. The acidity could make you think of a Northern Rhône Syrah like Saint-Joseph, but the fruit is more jammy here. Bold and in-your-face, not particularly complex and refined. Smooth and polished. A bit expensive for what it is here in Paris at 35 euro. Abv. 14,5 %.
2015 vintage. Columbia Valley, Washington State. 89 %Syrah, 5% Grenache, 4% Mourvèdre and 2%Viognier. Aged 13 months in mostly neutral French and a bit of American oak. Dark purplish colour, blueberry jam and fresh herbs in the nose. The acidity could make you think of a Northern Rhône Syrah like Saint-Joseph, but the fruit is more jammy here. Bold and in-your-face, not particularly complex and refined. Smooth and polished. A bit expensive for what it is here in Paris at 35 euro. Abv. 14,5 %.
Nov 22nd, 2018
Very grassy, earthy undertone in taste and smell. Deep dark purple in color. Slightly tannic. Full bodied. Not what I expected. Have never tasted a wine quite like this.
Very grassy, earthy undertone in taste and smell. Deep dark purple in color. Slightly tannic. Full bodied. Not what I expected. Have never tasted a wine quite like this.
May 26th, 2018
Our inn doesn’t allow BYOW in the rooms. Something about their liquor license. So, off the very limited wine list, I got this.
I shouldn’t have read the back label first. I saw “consultant Philippe Cambie.”
F*ck.
And sure enough, this tastes a lot like the overripe, overextracted Syrah-heavy Cotes du Rhône Villages that he has all his clients make. Maybe a tad better, since Syrah is better suited to the Columbia Valley than the Southern Rhône, so at least some of its vibrant savory character comes through.
Still, I wish that guy would go full Hobbit and move to New Zealand to f*ck up wines I never drink anyway.
UPDATE: The next night, this seemed a little less fruit-bomby. Upping from 8.6 to 8.7.
Our inn doesn’t allow BYOW in the rooms. Something about their liquor license. So, off the very limited wine list, I got this.
I shouldn’t have read the back label first. I saw “consultant Philippe Cambie.”
F*ck.
And sure enough, this tastes a lot like the overripe, overextracted Syrah-heavy Cotes du Rhône Villages that he has all his clients make. Maybe a tad better, since Syrah is better suited to the Columbia Valley than the Southern Rhône, so at least some of its vibrant savory character comes through.
Still, I wish that guy would go full Hobbit and move to New Zealand to f*ck up wines I never drink anyway.
UPDATE: The next night, this seemed a little less fruit-bomby. Upping from 8.6 to 8.7.
Philippe had this 10 years ago
Philippe had this 10 years ago
5 people found it helpfulMay 15th, 2015You rarely find syrah with this kind of finesse and subtlety. Terrific structure, with the fruit and chocolate of syrah but balanced by a palpable minerality. A contemplative syrah where many just try to overpower and overbear.
You rarely find syrah with this kind of finesse and subtlety. Terrific structure, with the fruit and chocolate of syrah but balanced by a palpable minerality. A contemplative syrah where many just try to overpower and overbear.
2 people found it helpfulJan 7th, 2016Fresh crushed blueberries, flint, roasted meat, and gingerbread. Killer juice
Fresh crushed blueberries, flint, roasted meat, and gingerbread. Killer juice
2 people found it helpfulApr 17th, 2015Full ruby-red. Aromas of kirsch, licorice pastille, espresso and dark chocolate are complemented by a whiff of smoked meat. Almost shockingly fat and ripe on the palate, offering mouthfilling flavors of black fruits, licorice, spices and dried herbs. This plush, sweet Syrah has just enough acidity to maintain its shape. Finishes with ripe, smooth tannins and a note of licorice. An element of savory complexity prevents this almost jammy wine from coming off as heavy. A seriously hedonistic wine that's hard to fault at its gentle price. (Stephen Tanzer, Vinous, December 2020)
Full ruby-red. Aromas of kirsch, licorice pastille, espresso and dark chocolate are complemented by a whiff of smoked meat. Almost shockingly fat and ripe on the palate, offering mouthfilling flavors of black fruits, licorice, spices and dried herbs. This plush, sweet Syrah has just enough acidity to maintain its shape. Finishes with ripe, smooth tannins and a note of licorice. An element of savory complexity prevents this almost jammy wine from coming off as heavy. A seriously hedonistic wine that's hard to fault at its gentle price. (Stephen Tanzer, Vinous, December 2020)
1 person found it helpfulDec 3rd, 2020