Reynvaan Stonessence Syrah 2017
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Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Stonessence has an abundance of aromatics including black fruits, Asian spices, smoked meats, sandalwood, with hints of violets and marshmallow. Stonessence has a long mouth feel of green olive and crushed pepper which coat the palate.
Professional Ratings
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Decanter
Matt Reynvaan makes top-drawer Syrahs (varietal and co-fermented with Viognier or Marsanne) from both the pudding-stone terroir of Walla Walla’s In the Rocks Vineyard and the 1,600m Foothills in the Sun Vineyard at the base of the Blue Mountains. This one is 100% In the Rocks Syrah: seductive, savoury rare meat and saddle leather, ripe black cherries, red plums and an orange flower water perfume. Silky mouthfeel and incredible freshness.
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Wine Spectator
Impressively structured and polished, with a vibrant backbone of minerality and tannins wrapped in spirited blackberry, black olive and smoky pepper beef flavors, building toward medium-grained tannins.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Currently showing some rigidity and firm rockiness on the nose, the 2017 Syrah Stonessence emanates with a dusty black plum essence and classic black peppercorn aroma before showing elements of olive and worn leather. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is spicy with elements of dry-aged meat, dried blackberries and juicy plum with fine-grained tannins and succulent acidity that makes my mouth water. The wine ends with a long, drawn-out finish with spice elements that make me crave barbecue.
Rating: 93+
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Wine Enthusiast
This wine is quite reductive out of the gate. Underneath that are aromas of sea salt, olive brine, espresso and charcuterie plate. The palate brings a sense of deftness and detail, with abundant savory and coffee notes on the long, salty finish. Yum.
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Wine & Spirits
Stonessence is Matt Reynvaan’s reserve bottling. In 2017, it’s musky and feral, with scents of clove, cinnamon and distant smoke, and deep, powerful, juicy fruit flavors. It is modestly rich but there’s an acid brightness at the core, and tannins fine enough for flank steak.
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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.