We tried these two Eberle Syrahs at our Pig+Fig tasting this week:
1. Eberle Syrah FrahlichVnyd/PasoRobles (13.8%) 1995: Dark color w/ slight bricking; some cedary/pencilly rather floral/Syrah/bit blackberry slight smokey/roasted/Rhonish fairly complex rather youthful nose; rather cedary/pencilly/old Red lightly tart light floral/blackberry/Syrah bit Rhonish/smokey complex somewhat smooth/elegant flavor w/ light brisk tannins; very long smooth/gentle complex finish w/ modest tannins; drying out slightly on the palate but a still fairly youthful for a 30 yr old Syrah; still will go another 6-10 yrs. $nc (BSvSG)
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2. Eberle Syrah SteinbeckVnyd/PasoRobles (14.3%) 2023: Very dark color; strong very floral/Syrah/blackberry light toasty/smokey/oak slight Rhonish rather restrained Syrah nose; bit soft strong Syrah/floral/blackberry light toasty/smoky/Fr.oak balanced quite pleasant flavor w/ modest tannins; very long floral/blackberry/bit Rhonish Syrah w/ modest tannins; a very balanced very floral Syrah that will benefit from a few yrs of age; quite attractive floral Syrah but atypical of most Paso Syrah; quite a pretty wine. $43.00
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More Ebercrimp from TheBloodyPulpit:
1. I've always liked Gary's Syrahs for their balance & aromatics. They tend to show a lot of Rhonish floral character but not the roasted/peppery character of great NRhone Syrah. He planted the first Syrah in Paso using cuttings from the UCDavis vnyd. Which originated from a Hermitage vnyd in France. His major professor, Harold Olmo, invited him up to Davis to help him prune that row of Syrah. When they were done, Olmo ordered Gary to clean up the prunings (wink/wink) and so Gary stole those trimmings from right under Olmo's nose and took them back to Estrella River wnry in Paso where he subsequently planted them, ungrafted. This became known as the Estrella River clone of Syrah. And the rest is history. His was not the first varietal Syrah in Calif but when I tasted his barrel sample around 1976, it gave me my first glimpse that Syrah could make great wine in Calif in the right hands. Toby James was his winemaker at that point in time I believe. And the rest is history.
Paso Syrah tends to be on the overripe/extracted/jammy style (at least the ones that get rave reviews) but Gary's Syrahs are noted for being much more balanced and loaded w/ floral aromatics. Despite being more restrained in style, they age wonderfully well. But they seldom get rave reviews from noted Monktown attourneys. Shows what he knows!! After he left Estrella River, he continued his success w/ the variety at Eberle Wnry using a variety of vnyd sources, including his Estate.
Tom