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The December 2023 Auction: Part 1
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1 / 2Lot 2519
Estimate: $480
This auction has ended. Bidding is closed.
Collection name
Reviews
99WA
"The first vintage for this new vineyard (they made a 2013 but kept it all in magnum... if you get a bottle, call me), the inky colored 2014 Syrah is a huge, unctuous effort the exhibits crazy notes of Asian spice, soy, shiitake mushroom, blackcurrants and tar. Tasking like a young Hermitage la Chappelle from Jaboulet (from a great vintage), with lots of tannin, blood, minerality and smoke, a huge mid-palate, and tons of tannin, it's a tour de force in Syrah I wish I could pour for every reader . . . . Made by Christophe Baron of Cayuse, No Girl and Horsepower, the Hors Categorie releases come from new plantings on the steep hillsides overlooking the north fork of the Walla Walla River. This is south of the town of Milton-Freewater, in Oregon, and is largely broken basalt soils that are incredibly difficult to farm. So much so, Baron traveled to the Northern Rhône Valley, where vignerons are used to steep, rocky slopes, to purchase farming equipment. There's two separate hillsides, with slightly different exposures and terroirs, but at the moment, they go into a single cuvee. And given that there's just a scant two acres or so planted, I don't expect this to change anytime soon. Despite the young vines and unknown terroir, these have to be some of the more impressive and exciting, releases in the wine world today. The only bad thing about them? There’s not enough to go around."
Region
Red
Country
Score
"The first vintage for this new vineyard (they made a 2013 but kept it all in magnum... if you get a bottle, call me), the inky colored 2014 Syrah is a huge, unctuous effort the exhibits crazy notes of Asian spice, soy, shiitake mushroom, blackcurrants and tar. Tasking like a young Hermitage la Chappelle from Jaboulet (from a great vintage), with lots of tannin, blood, minerality and smoke, a huge mid-palate, and tons of tannin, it's a tour de force in Syrah I wish I could pour for every reader . . . . Made by Christophe Baron of Cayuse, No Girl and Horsepower, the Hors Categorie releases come from new plantings on the steep hillsides overlooking the north fork of the Walla Walla River. This is south of the town of Milton-Freewater, in Oregon, and is largely broken basalt soils that are incredibly difficult to farm. So much so, Baron traveled to the Northern Rhône Valley, where vignerons are used to steep, rocky slopes, to purchase farming equipment. There's two separate hillsides, with slightly different exposures and terroirs, but at the moment, they go into a single cuvee. And given that there's just a scant two acres or so planted, I don't expect this to change anytime soon. Despite the young vines and unknown terroir, these have to be some of the more impressive and exciting, releases in the wine world today. The only bad thing about them? There’s not enough to go around."
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The fourth-largest wine producer in the world, led by California. American fine wine is defined by ripe, expressive fruit and a spirit of innovation, with Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon among the most sought-after wines globally.
Syrah (Shiraz) produces dark, powerful reds with black fruit, pepper and smoked-meat notes. It yields elegant, perfumed wines in the northern Rhone and bold, rich styles in Australia.