2014 Jeff Cohn Cellars "Domaine des Chirats" Rockpile Syrah

“The 2014 Syrah Domaine Des Chirats comes from Rockpile. It is a collaboration with Yves Cuilleron from France’s Northern Rhône. This is made from what is believed to be Chapoutier suitcase clones. It is 100% Syrah aged in about 30% new French oak with about 30% whole clusters during the fermentation. Beautiful elegance and complexity with notes of blueberry, blackberry, floral notes, and great acid, this is a dead ringer for a Northern Hermitage or Côte-Rôtie. A gorgeous, dense purple color to the rim, sweet, juicy fruit, full body, but again, incredible freshness and vibrancy. This is a stunner and comes in at 15.2% natural alcohol, but seems light on its feet. Drink it over the next decade or more. P.S. As it sits in the glass, some bacon fat, lard and meaty notes also emerge. One of my favorite winemakers in all of California is Jeff Cohn. He continues to show a Midas touch with many different grape varieties. Kudos to Jeff Cohn for this incredible, creative and brilliant portfolio of wines. (RP)” (12/2016)

“This collaborative effort from one of the Rhône’s well-regarded winemakers and local, practiced Syrah hand, Jeff Cohn, is a bold but fairly unique bottling that travels a path all its own. It is ripe, it is big-bodied and it is decidedly tight in structure with challenging tannins that inform of the need for considerable patience. It is also involving and quite complex with elements of pepper, game, minerals and bitter chocolate intermixed with its dense, blackberry-like fruit, and, while it may take a decade or more to round into shape, the wait promises to be well worthwhile.” (11/2017)

“An assertive Syrah, showing power and finesse, offering aromas of berry cobbler and toasty spice, with rich flavors of smoky black cherry and licorice. The tannins build slowly toward the finish. Drink now through 2025. . (TF)” (01/2017)