2012 Reserve Syrah Ciel du Cheval, Red Mountain
Of the 53 barrels of wine we produced for the 2012 vintage, we found 12 that were unique, distinctive and stood above the rest of the wines. From these twelve barrels we produced two separate reserve wines. The Reserve Syrah is a blend of three different clones of Syrah. One from Australia where it is called Shiraz (33%). And two whose origins are from France, including the famed Beaucastel clone. The three clones combined together create a fantastic combination that demonstrates great complexity. The wines were aged in six separate barrels, comprised of 66% new American Oak and 34% new French Oak. The combination of fruit and oak flavors is intense and will age well, improving with each year in the bottle.
Big, bold fruit flavors, balanced by complex oak components. Three separate clones of Syrah were combined and aged in 66% new American Oak and 34% new French oak were combined to give this wine a high level of complexity and a diversity of flavors. 144 Cases Produced. 91 pts, Stephen Tanzer, 90 pts Wine Enthusiast. Learn more ...
| Vintage | 2012 |
| Varietal | 100% Syrah |
| Appellation | Red Mountain |
| Vineyard | Ciel du Ceval |
| Designation | Reserve |
| Aging | 22 months in 66% New American Oak and 34% New French Oak |
| Fermentation | 100% Frenck Oak Roller Barrel |
| Alcohol | 14.50% |
| Wine Style | Red Wine |
| Volume | 750 ml |
90 points. The Wine Advocate Antohny Mueller, April 2014.
Opaque in the glass with a deep staining of tears, the 2012 Reserve Syrah is dark and dense with aromas of roasted black plums, black cherry reduction, crème de cassis and blackberries with a subtle sweet essence of vanilla and crème brûlée. Full-bodied, the wine delivers a rich texture with lingering spiciness and elements of roasted herbs, hints of black peppercorn and firm tannins on the mid-palate. The wine offers up flavors of blackberry skin and espresso beans before concluding with a firm, tannic finish. Just over 1,700 bottles were produced from Syrah that was rested in 100% new oak, 66% American and 34% French.
91 points. Vinous Stephen Tanzer, December 2014.
(15.5% alcohol; aged in 100% new oak, two-thirds American and one-third French; a shiraz clone from Australia makes up one-third of this wine): Bright ruby-red. High-pitched aromas of blackberry, licorice, violet and chocolate mint. Densely packed but vibrant and delineated, with penetrating ripe acidity framing the flavors of blackberry pastille, flowers, bitter chocolate and exotic white fruits. This deep, tactile wine has the balance and sex appeal to provide early pleasure but also the chewy, ripe tannins and length to support several years of development in bottle.
