Neyers Old Lakeville Road Syrah 2007

BN#258181

Neyers

The Sangiacomo Family developed a 12-acre Sonoma Coast vineyard for us in the mid-90s, using budwood from three Northern Rhône appellations -- Cornas, Hermitage and Côte-Rôtie. We find aspects of all three in the finished wine, but its real charm is "New World Syrah" character. That has come to mean a combination of exotic spices and gobs of fruit, with an engaging degree of softness. Have you been assuming that Syrah can't deliver as much satisfaction - and bang for your buck - as other red varietals? Here's proof to the contrary.

Wine Spectator

Offers wonderful focus and purity of flavor. Intense and concentrated, with gorgeous, pure, ripe blackberry, boysenberry and huckleberry fruit that unfolds to offer hints of pepper, nutmeg and other exotic spices. Deliciously full-bodied. Drink now through 2016.

Score: 94. —James Laube, February 28, 2009.

Wine Advocate

Eighty percent whole clusters were utilized for the 2007 Syrah Old Lakeville, which comes from the Sonoma Coast. The result is a dense ruby/purple-colored wine displaying a big, sweet nose of damp earth, truffles, tar, black cherries, and blackberries. There is plenty of structure as well as hints of underbrush, pepper, and leather. This offering should keep for a decade, becoming even more generous with another year or two of bottle age.

Score: 91. —Robert Parker, December 2008.