2018 Delmas Syrah, Rocks District, WA
Was really in the mood for a glass of red wine but had no one to share it with. So I invited myself over and opened one of these. Prior vintages I've had--15, 16 and 17--were all magical. I remember writing a review of the '17 and commenting on it's luxurious femininity, that where other WA syrahs were Batman this was Catwoman.
Not so the '18, which I bought before I understood how much I was going to hate this vintage, at least among the early ripeners. Hot and sappy, hated it. Poured myself a glass anyway and sat outside with it and my usual tall ice water chaser to enjoy one of the lovelier days we've had in recent weeks. Maybe, I thought, I'd get used to it. But I could not, so I started dosing it with water. Typically somewhere between a teaspoon and a tablespoon is enough to firm up an overendowed wine like this, but this one took a couple of extra applications.
I am pained to have such a poor wine from a producer I so admire. Why don't they just pick early?