Bright dark ruby with pink edges. Possibly not perfectly clear. Massive funk initial settles down to an awesome green vegetal and spice, exotic and hot. Southern-European but steely in focus. Rabbit in Cayenne and blood sausage but tempered with birch branches in snow with maple syrup. Your Cote Rotie ideals are shattered by a massive California warm oakiness and concentration. Holy wow what a beautiful wine. Weedy and extracted. Suggested by the indefatigable Tom Pelter at Calistoga Wine Stop after he overheard me coughing on AL numbers over some other labels. In the mouth, a fairly thin but beautiful acidic round entry struts out its ample fruit stuffing while desperately trying to keep the fine-grain tannin at bay. Black cherry and cola, but all effervescent and glowing. This is not everybody’s wine, but I am so loving these Mendo Syrahs. Pay special attention to the AL on this one. It tickles a fine line between austerity and extraction with amazing balance and verve.
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2011 Meyer Family Cellars Syrah Yorkville Highlands Mendocino 12-7
Twelve Point Seven
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