A Swiss wine to awaken real passion?

2003 Syrah Vieilles Vignes, Simon Maye & Fils, Chamoson / Switzerland (always sold out, was around $38 at release)

It seems to me, that the really great wines of 2003 were underestimated at release, while the mediocre ones have been overvalued.
I have clearly underestimated this wine in its primary phase.
I was actually expecting a pleasant, early enjoyable Syrah.
Today, it's rather a wild animal jumping at me from the glass ..
What a joy - this is a truly high-class Syrah in every respect. It certainly needs another 10 years of storage in order to provide enjoyable drinkability.
The deep, still youthful color with its glossy surface is a clear warning: don't touch me for now.
On the nose there's intense dark fruit with profound minerality and great etheral freshness.
On the palate, it is super-concentrated with a very long, steely finish.
This wine easily outperforms the following (significantly overvalued) Syrah from 2003: Guigal Hermitage, Guigal Cote Rotie Chateau d'Ampuis, Tardieu-Laurent Hermitage, Delas Hermitage Les Bessards.
My heartfelt congratulations to Simon Maye & Fils! This is by far the greatest Swiss wine I've ever had he privilege to enjoy.
My personal rating: 93+/100.

Best greetings from Switzerland,
Rainer

Real passion in Switzerland
Thanks, Rainer!
Interesting! Must try this with you guys sometime - maybe Fredrik's Gupf-bash in June?
Have other vintages been similarly promising, or to what degree do you feel that the 2003
is simply a unique product of the freakishly hot weather conditions (that are rarely prevalent in Wallis)?
Cheers, Victor

Thanks for that TN. It makes me want to plan another trip to Valais so as to fill up on their characterful wines, which hardly ever get as far as here commercially. I have had Valaisan Syrah which I find very good but my real interest lies in wines from local varieties like Cornalin and Petite Arvine, which can be great wines with unique flavour.

- maybe Fredrik's Gupf-bash in June?

That would have to be Saturday lunch, then. Or don´t you think the fifteen I will bring for Friday will do!?

Greetings from Sweden / Fredrik L

Interesting! Must try this with you guys sometime - maybe Fredrik's Gupf-bash in June?
Have other vintages been similarly promising, or to what degree do you feel that the 2003
is simply a unique product of the freakishly hot weather conditions (that are rarely prevalent in Wallis)?
Cheers, Victor

Hi Victor,
it's good to see you warming up for Swiss wines.
Syrah Vieilles Vignes from Simon Maye & Fils is always a fine wine - made for true Syrah lovers.
The vintage 2003 is exceptional in my opinion because of its high concentration, precision and age-worthyness.
Interestingly, its fruit is rather classic than hot - hence not typical of the vintage.
2005 is similarly good, although it lacks the extraordinary talents of the 2003 vintage.
The beauty of this Syrah Vieilles Vignes from Simon Maye & Fils is this: you can buy each and every vintage and you'd never be disappointed.
In the worst case you'd acquire a lightweighted, characterful Syrah at a modest price (CHF 35). And this wine would reach bottle maturity after 10 years of storage. I can think of worse

Cheers,
Rainer

- maybe Fredrik's Gupf-bash in June?

That would have to be Saturday lunch, then. Or don´t you think the fifteen I will bring for Friday will do!?

Greetings from Sweden / Fredrik L

15 bottles? My doctor advised me to consume no more than 1000 parker points per hour.
Will I have to ask him for exception approval?

Cheers,
Rainer

A 'passionate Swiss'. Hmmm. I'm trying to envision that. Maybe if someone moved their cheese or lifted their Swiss Army knife...