Babcock Black Label Cuvee Syrah 1997
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Wine
Spectator -
Wine
Enthusiast -
Robert
Parker
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Concentrated and very intense, outstanding for its layers of rich, opulent cassis, black cherry, game and perfumed spice. Has wonderful length, with ripe tannins supporting the flavors.
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Wine Enthusiast
Black color. What the French call "sauvage" aromas of animal and leather, with intense blackberry, plum, and anise notes, and very smoky oak. The fruit is brooding now, hidden under ample yet silky tannins, but it's a fascinating wine that should become complex with age. Decant this well in advance of serving if you want to try it now.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The terrific 1997 Syrah Black Label Cuvee emerges from a cool climate vineyard in Lompoc. This opaque purple-colored Syrah exhibits aromas of melted licorice, blackberries, and cassis. Full-bodied, with great fruit purity and intensity, an alluring texture and superb harmony among its acidity, alcohol, and tannin, this superb Syrah is still an infant in terms of its development. Give it another year of bottle age and drink it over the following 12-15 years.
Marked by an unmistakable deep purple hue and savory aromatics, Syrah makes an intense, powerful and often age-worthy red. Native to the Northern Rhône, Syrah achieves its maximum potential in the steep village of Hermitage and plays an important component in the Red Rhône Blends of the south, adding color and structure to Grenache and Mourvèdre. Syrah is the most widely planted grape of Australia and is important in California and Washington. Sommelier Secret—Such a synergy these three create together, the Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre trio often takes on the shorthand term, “GSM.”
With a dry and mild climate cooled significantly by moist ocean fog and breezes, Santa Barbara County is a grape-grower’s dream. Part of the larger Central Coast appellation, Santa Barbara is home to Santa Maria Valley and Santa Ynez Valley. The conditions here provide an opportunity for nearly effortless production of high-quality cool-climate Central Coast wines. This is also the site of the 2004 film Sideways, which caused Pinot Noir’s popularity to skyrocket and brought new acclaim to the region.
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are the stars of Santa Barbara, producing wines marked by racy acidity. Crisp Sauvignon Blanc and savory Syrah are also important. The region is home to many young and enthusiastic winemakers eager to experiment with less common varieties including Chenin Blanc, Grüner Veltliner, Trousseau Gris, Gamay and Cabernet Franc, making it an exciting area to watch.