Syrah Grand Ciel Vineyard
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, December 2012
2009 Syrah Grand Ciel Vineyard| 93 Points
Reviewed by David Schildknecht
A complex and positively animal scent rises from the glass of 2008 Doyenne Syrah Grand Ciel Vineyard, suggesting roasted red meats, smoked meats, and raw liver reminiscent of Cornas. Black tea, black pepper, cherry and cassis add to the impressive aromatic display, and each of these features has its fluid counterpart on a richly-fruited, glossy, full, yet brightly juicy and irresistibly saliva-inducing mid-palate and finish. This superbly complex, glowingly intense, and next sip-compelling Syrah ought to be worth following for ten or a dozen years. (Interestingly, in contrast to most DeLille lots, this relied largely on spontaneous fermentation.)
Wine Enthusiast Magazine, December 2011
2008 Syrah Grand Ciel | 95 Points, Cellar Selection
Certainly the finest Grand Ciel Syrah to date, this is a full-flavored, complete wine, loaded with pure fruit flavors of berry and cassis. The deatils pile on--a wiff of stone, a hint of chocolate, suggestions of spice, all in perfect proportion.
The Seattle Times Top 100 Northwest Wines of 2011
2008 Syrah Grand Ciel | #21 of 100 Wines
Rand Sealey, Review of Washington Wines January 2010
www.reviewofwashingtonwines.com
2006 Syrah Grand Ciel | 19+/20 Points
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.
Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, NOV/DEC 09
2006 Syrah Grand Ciel | 91 Points
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.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, Closing Date: 10-31-09, Issue 185
2006 Syrah Grand Ciel | 94 Points
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 |
Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar
2005 Syrah Grand Ciel | 91 Points
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.
Paul Gregutt, Wine Enthusiast
2005 Syrah Grand Ciel | 93 Points
Wine Spectator
2005 Syrah Grand Ciel | 92 Points
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.
Jay Miller, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
2005 Syrah Grand Ciel | 91 Points
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.
Robert Parker, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
2005 Syrah Grand Ciel Vineyard | 90+ Points
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.
