So for dinner I made smoked beef brisket over a warm potato and leek salad (excellent!), and at the last second decided this really needed a glass of syrah. And I just happened to have one that had been delivered last week--frozen in transit, cork half out of the bottle, needing to be put out of its misery.
2019 WeatherEye Vineyards Syrah Estate Red Mountain
PnP'd. Dense but silky black and blue fruit is both restrained and giving at the same time. That is, it doesn't feel like it's holding back but neither is this an IYF style new world wine or Northern Rhone wannabe. It's something else I haven't quite seen before, likely because I've leaned toward Rocks syrahs and haven't had that many WeatherEye wines yet. Yet every one I've had from this unique vineyard, pretty much regardless of grape or winemaker, has been wow material. None have been ordinary and most, like this from my favorite WA winemaker, Todd Alexander, have been stunning. Soft tannins build over two hours but never become daunting, and some roadside herbal qualities develop but none of these changes actually become soloists, they just join the chorus. Harmony complete.
ADDENDUM: Another glass on Day 3. Here's the sharper tannins and acidity, here's the structure. The fruit has pulled back and I'm getting a lot of coffee and black olive notes. No less delightful than Day One, but now it's showing it's true potential. Yum.
Interesting to compare this to the Liminal I reported on a few days ago: WeatherEye syrah fruit, but different winemaker. And where I liked the Liminal but with reservations (it's exceptionally good at being what it is, but that's not what I love), this one I just flat out love and no reservations.