Reynvaan Foothills Reserve Syrah 2016
-
Jeb
Dunnuck -
Wine
Enthusiast -
Robert
Parker
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
-
Jeb Dunnuck
The 2016 Syrah Estate Foothills Reserve is a selection from the estate vineyard and was aged 11 months in neutral oak followed by 13 months in bottle. Deep purple-colored, with terrific notes of blackberries, smoked earth, graphite, cedarwood, and salted meats, it hits the palate with slightly more structure and tannin than the straight In The Hills Release, yet has terrific balance, no hard edges, and a great finish. It needs 2-3 years of bottle age, but this elegant, classic Syrah from Reynvaan will see its 15th birthday in fine form.
-
Wine Enthusiast
The funk is at the fore on this wine out of the gate, followed by vineyard signature notes of freshly ground black pepper along with sea salt, seaweed and tilled earth. A deft, flavorful palate follows leading into a long showstopping finish filled with rich notes of citrus and smoke.
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2016 Syrah Foothills Reserve is reminiscent of St. Joeseph on the nose, without the rustic minerality but still with smoked meats, black peppercorn and savory dried herbs with black olives. The medium to full-bodied palate shows firm tannins, like something from the Northern Rhône, clearly showing the spirit of Syrah with its black-fruited core, spiced black pepper and hints of oak flavors. The long, grippy and tannic finish lingers with intensity now in its youth, so try this with food or let it rest in your cellar for a few more years. Your future self will thank you. Only 208 cases produced.
Other Vintages
2020- Vinous
-
James
Suckling -
Jeb
Dunnuck -
Wine
Spectator
-
Jeb
Dunnuck -
Robert
Parker -
Wine
Spectator
-
James
Suckling -
Jeb
Dunnuck -
Wine
Spectator -
Wine &
Spirits -
Robert
Parker
-
Wine
Spectator -
Robert
Parker -
Wine &
Spirits
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.”
Responsible for some of Washington’s most highly acclaimed wines, the Walla Walla Valley has experienced a surge in popularity in recent years and is home to both historic wineries and younger, up-and-coming producers.
The Walla Walla Valley, a Native American name meaning “many waters,” is located in southeastern Washington; part of the appellation actually extends into Oregon. Soils here are well-drained, sandy loess over Missoula Flood deposits and fractured basalt.
It is a region perfectly suited to Rhône-inspired Syrahs, distinguished by savory notes of red berry, black olive, smoke and fresh earth. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot create a range of styles from smooth and supple to robust and well-structured. White varieties are rare but some producers blend Sauvignon Blanc with Sémillon, resulting in a rich and round style, and plantings of Viognier, while minimal, are often quite successful.
Of note within Walla Walla, is one new and very peculiar appellation, called the Rocks District of Milton-Freewater. This is the only AVA in the U.S. whose boundaries are totally defined by the soil type. Soils here look a bit like those in the acclaimed Rhône region of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, but are large, ancient, basalt cobblestones. These stones work in the same way as they do in Chateauneuf, absorbing and then radiating the sun's heat up to enhance the ripening of grape clusters. The Rocks District is within the part of Walla Walla that spills over into Oregon and naturally excels in the production of Rhône varieties like Syrah, as well as the Bordeaux varieties.