[TN] '03 Porter Creek Syrah

Since my friend Jerry had graciously given us some ground venison from one of his recent hunting adventure, I decided to make some venison-black bean "chili" from it. Continuing on the premise that Syrah and venison is one of life's great food/wine combinations, I brought up from the cellar a wine that Cellartracker's "Drinkability Index" told me should have been consumed a few years ago:

2003 Porter Creek Syrah "Timbervine Ranch" nose: initially, very dark and tarry with a light note of pencil lead and high MW esters, later turning more recognizably Syrah with an overtly minty character

palate: high acidity, medium-full body, dark fruit

This wine was purchased at the winery back in '06 or '07. Porter Creek is in the Russian River Valley and farms biodynamically. This Syrah at the time of purchase was one of the their more appealing offerings, but time has not been particularly kind to this wine. From my initial impressions, I would have been hard pressed to identify it as Syrah if tasted blind. Instead, I would more likely have ID'd it as Amador County Zinfandel. With time, it became more recognizably Syrah but always with a strong CA/RRV imprint. The pencil lead intensified with time and became more minty but the volatile esters subsided. Far from a bad wine, but not very recognizable as Syrah.

Mark Lipton

Reply to
Mark Lipton
Loading thread data ...

DrinksForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.