Served this last night as a mystery wine w/ our PetiteSirahs:
1. AlbanVnyd Syrah Reva AlbanEstate/EdnaVlly (13%) 1994: Very dark color w/ no bricking; very strong toasty/charred/burnt/oak pretty intense boysenberry/blackberry/Syrah bit peppery slight reduced/funky/sewer gas rather complex nose; fairly tart very strong charred/burnt/toasty/oak strong blackberry/boysenberry/Syrah/ripe/peppery slight rosemary/herbal bit reduced/sewer gas/pungent flavor w/ some ripe/lush/smooth tannins; very strong charred/burnt/oak very strong blackberry/Syrah/ripe/boysenberry/bit peppery slight reduced/funky/sewer gas slightly complex finish w/ modest ripe/smooth tannins; still very primary and showing no signs of being 20+ yrs of age.
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. We had the '93 Reva, John's first, last week. It was showing a (tiny) bit more age than this '94. This wine is sorta in a state of suspended animation and showing very little evolution. One has to wonder about the rationale of making a wine that is ageless and smells/tastes like it was just bottled ystrday. I always thought the idea of making an ageable wine was for it to develop the wonderful complexity that comes w/ btl age. I stand in awe of this wine for its youthful character but, truth be told, I'd much rather drink a '94 Qupe BienNacido, which I know would be showing a lot more complexity and interest.
Tom (now having no regrets for being dumped from John's mailing list)