90
January 2013
Medium ruby in the glass. Aromas of pepper, fruit and a hint of leather and smoke. Taste buds detect ripe fruit, pepper and spice integrated nicely into a medium bodied feel with a light dusting of tannin. Decent enough length with some heat towards the end. I enjoyed this with a basic spaghetti and meatballs in tomato basil sauce, but it would stand up nicely to bigger protein meat dishes and bbq fare. This wine hits the sweet spot on the value/price continuum for my bottom dweller budget. 88-89.
About what I would expect for this price. Not all that smooth, and not much complexity either.
pleasant however not outstanding.
Always an amazing value, this complex and balanced South African Syrah features a rich fruity core of cassis, blackberry, and dark cherry supported by complementary oak and mineral elements and defining spicy and smoky notes. It can be a bit rough and gritty in the mouth, with some grainy chocolate, but it's still eminently approachable even at a young age. Extremely well done, it's one of those all-purpose wines that goes well with food but can also stand on its own for frequent drinking.