2006 Luca Syrah Laborde Double Select Uco Valley Mendoza 14.4%
This called Double Select because the vineyard was created by a Luis Laborde who brought back a massale selection from the Rhone Valley over 50 years ago. He then did a second massale selection in the vineyard to achieve the present configuration. Interesting that the label specifies "not clones," as if it has become common consumer knowledge that massale is natural way and clonal is eugenics.
Thick & heavy bottle, gimme some carbon. Attractive aromas of blackberries, kirsch, vanilla and mocha. First mouth attack has a syrupy sweetness, like molasses. Tannins are light and the sweetness is slightly greater than the acidity. The acidity also tastes to me a little unnatural, or maybe just standalone. Alcohol is well integrated. This is a good modern wine, perhaps because Syrah is better capable (than, say, Pinot Noir) of handling more mature grapes without losing its Platonic essence. And, as more mature grapes go, this is actually quite restrained, entirely not over the top.