Tasting Notes

WA99

I finished the tasting with Morgan Peterson with his Guigal single-vineyard Côte Rôtie lookalikes, several meriting a perfect score, as if I were standing next to Marcel and Philippe Guigal and tasting from their cellar in Ampuis, Côte Rôtie. These are among the greatest winemaking achievements I have ever experienced, and give serious competition to the reclusive genius sandwiched between the tourist town of Ojai and the biker town of Ventura – Manfred Krankl. The 2013 Syrah Exposition 1, which comes from a relatively steep west-facing hill and is 100% whole cluster, is just a mind-boggling wine. A wine of great intensity with an inky purple color, a beautiful, flowery nose of raspberries, black olives, violets and some exotic tropical fruits, it is rich, voluptuous, multi-layered and just spectacular. It should drink well for at least another decade, if you can resist it that long.

WS95

Remarkable for the richness, depth and torque on display. Expressive rose petal, dark raspberry and smoky pepper aromas open to bold and intricately layered flavors of blueberry, cassis, licorice and black olive. Drink now through 2028.

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