**+ Chez Ray Syrah, Lodi, CA, 2004 (S4) - Wine Tasting & Review
By way of background: The Chez Ray Syrah, 2004, (code S4) was made from Lodi grapes, fermented warm, with a combination of French and American oak.
Original review, September, 2010:
In the glass: Medium to deep red in the glass, no brick overtones.
On the nose: Sweet, fragrant, knitted red fruit, some muddled strawberry and raspberry blended in.
On the palate: Light and subtle, feels like raspberry juice in your mouth, showing a touch of acid, a touch of sugar and a touch of tannin. But there is only the merest hint of fruit, so I could not call this balanced. It is a pleasant, bright, lightweight blend however, so not offensive at all.
In summary: Overall, two stars on the Spirit of Wine scale, with a plus for its simple pleasantness. Think of this as a wine that you would pull out on a picnic after you have climbed to a picturesque spot in the foothills of the French Alps. Then you would enjoy it immensely!
With long decant, one week kept cool under vacuum: stays simple and light, picking up light hints of oxidation. Seemed a bit stronger when fresh.
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Updated review, almost a year later, June, 2011: Consistent color and aroma. More sweet raspberry fruit is beginning to peek out from between the closed tannins and acids. Remains quite atypical from what I would expect of a Lodi syrah, but becoming a stronger wine in the intervening year. Not showing any noticeable elements of age yet.
Original review, September, 2010:
In the glass: Medium to deep red in the glass, no brick overtones.
On the nose: Sweet, fragrant, knitted red fruit, some muddled strawberry and raspberry blended in.On the palate: Light and subtle, feels like raspberry juice in your mouth, showing a touch of acid, a touch of sugar and a touch of tannin. But there is only the merest hint of fruit, so I could not call this balanced. It is a pleasant, bright, lightweight blend however, so not offensive at all.
In summary: Overall, two stars on the Spirit of Wine scale, with a plus for its simple pleasantness. Think of this as a wine that you would pull out on a picnic after you have climbed to a picturesque spot in the foothills of the French Alps. Then you would enjoy it immensely!
With long decant, one week kept cool under vacuum: stays simple and light, picking up light hints of oxidation. Seemed a bit stronger when fresh.
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Updated review, almost a year later, June, 2011: Consistent color and aroma. More sweet raspberry fruit is beginning to peek out from between the closed tannins and acids. Remains quite atypical from what I would expect of a Lodi syrah, but becoming a stronger wine in the intervening year. Not showing any noticeable elements of age yet.
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