Grand Ciel Vineyard Syrah
Rand Sealey
Review of Washington Wines January 2010
www.reviewofwashingtonwines.com
2006 Doyenne Syrah, Red Mountain, Grand Ciel Vineyard
This is a powerhouse Syrah from the estate vineyard on Red Mountain. It shows a deep, bluish ruby color and intense blackberry, wild currant aromas with scents of violets, lavender and crushed roses. The flavors are thick and meaty, loaded with dark fruits, yet exquisite, with undertones of scorched earth, kirsch liqueur, and vanilla bean, followed by a long sweet tannin finish. 19+/20 points.
Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, NOV/DEC 09
2006 DeLille Estate Doyenne Syrah Grand Ciel Vineyard Red Mountain
($75) Deep, bright ruby-red. Pungent aroma of pomegranate lifted by flowers. Expressive, pure flavors of cassis, blackberry and violet tighten up quickly in the glass, turning increasingly clenched with air. Intensely flavored and sweet but dominated by its structure today and in need of patience. 91+ Pts.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, Closing Date: 10-31-09, Issue 185
2006 Doyenne Grand Ciel Syrah Red Mountain Red J.M. 94 Pts.
The 2006 Syrah Grand Ciel Vineyard also contains 2% Viognier. It offers greater aromatic complexity with it’s wild berries and herbs, leading to a packed, dense, opulent wine with a sauvage character that should please any Rhone enthusiast. This impeccably balanced pleasure-bent Syrah will have a drinking window extending from 2001-2021.
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Double Gold - DeLille Doyenne Syrah Grand Ciel Vineyard 2006 Red Mountain |
91 (+?) Pts. Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar (2005 Vintage)
Bright medium ruby. Aromatic but youthfully backward nose hints at tar, black olive, pepper and dried herbs. Dense, juicy and sweet, with lovely intensity and definition of flavor. Dark fruit notes are lifted by dried herbs and smoke. Very ripe but not porty. Not an easy style but complex and structured. According to winemaker Chris Peterson, this vineyard is adjacent to Quilceda Creek's Golitzine Vineyard.
93 Pts. - Paul Gregutt, Wine Enthusiast (2005 Vintage)
92 Pts. - Wine Spectator (2005 Vintage)
Rich, ripe and generous, offering a huge mouthful of coffee-accented plum and blueberry flavors. Finishes spicy, with hints of licorice and cardamom. Needs time to soften a bit. Best from 2009 through 2015. - H.S.
91 Pts. - Jay Miller, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (2005 Vintage)
The 2005 Syrah Grand Ciel is sourced from the winery’s new estate vineyard in Red Mountain. The wine has 3% Viognier co-fermented with aging in 20% new French oak. Large-scaled and very aromatic, it offers up notes of smoke, meat, game, bacon, blueberry, and blackberry jam. It has enough tannin to evolve for 3-5 years along with excellent balance and a pure, fruit-filled finish. Enjoy this impressive Syrah from 2012 to 2020. Doyenne is the sister label of DeLille Cellars, with the Rhone varieties all bottled under the Doyenne name. They are reviewed separately.-J.M.
90+ Pts - Robert Parker, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (2005 Vintage)
The 2005 Syrah Grand Ciel Vineyard is from the Red Mountain appellation is the most promising. Made in a northern Rhone-like style, it possesses notes of roasted meats, blackberries, truffles, earth, licorice, and spice box. Dense, muscular, and concentrated with good acidity as well as ripe tannin, it needs 1-2 years of cellaring, and should drink well over the following 10-12. This is the Rhone portfolio of the well-known and highly respected Washington state producer, DeLille Cellars. Dr. Jay Miller has comments on the De Lille wines in his review of Washington state wines, but since they were included in my intensive study of Rhone Ranger offerings, I wanted to share my thoughts with readers, although it is interesting to see his comments on the wines, tasted one month later than mine, and in Washington.-R.P.
