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SN: 91
Luca Syrah 2006
Winemaker's Notes:
Laura Catena is a pioneer in Mendoza for partnering with small, independent growers to produce the highest quality grapes from some of Argentina’s top low-yield, high-elevation vineyards. Perhaps her most distinctive is the Laborde vineyard. Over half a century ago, inspired viticulturist Luis Laborde created Argentina’s first Syrah vineyard planted through double massal selection. Laborde first traveled through France’s Rhone Valley and brought back a selection of the best mix of Syrah vines (not clones) back to Mendoza. After planting them in a local research vineyard and tracking each vine’s quality, he again selected the best of the best individual vines to plant in his own 10-acre vineyard in the Uco Valley. Laborde’s belief, shared among other leading viticulturists, was that vines lose much of their identity when reproduced through clonal selection (exact copies of DNA) since they originate from just one single vine. When a vineyard is planted from a mass selection of similar vines, but not copies, of the same variety, it adds a subtle diversity and complexity of flavors to the finished wine, much the same as brothers and sisters add flavor and interest to a single family. The Details Vintage: 2006 Varietal Composition: 100% Syrah Vineyard Locations: La Consulta Avg. Vineyard Elev.: 3,500 feet Avg. Age of Vines: 45 years Rootstock: Ungrafted Harvest Method: Hand-harvested Press Handling: No press wine Oak Regimen: 12 months in 50% new French and 50% second-use French barriques Fining: None Filtration: None Alcohol: 14.1% pH: 3.62 T.A. 5.42 Total Case Production: 2500 cases Tasting Notes/Food Pairing Suggestions Dense purple color. Aromas of toasty, smoky oak, forest floor and baking spice. Rich, lush, and mouthfilling on the palate. Deep fruit flavors of blackberry jam, blueberry, black cherry, ground black pepper and hints of sweet/spicy oak. L3—lush, long and loveable. Pairs well with grilled or smoked meats such as beef, pork, and lamb, and dishes prepared with mild cheeses or wild mushrooms.
Luca:
Luca is a winery founded by Laura Catena (of the prestigious Argentinian winemaking family), named for her son, in Mendoza, Argentina. The focus is on small batch, artisanal quality wines that showcase the individual terroirs of Mendoza, produced at a state-of-the-art facility. Luis Reginato is principal winemaker. Luca produces Chardonnay, Syrah, Pinot Noir, Malbec and the Beso de Dante Malbec/Cabernet Sauvignon blend.
Editorial Reviews for Luca Syrah
Rather restrained with smoky, earthy light toast notes over vanilla tinged raspberry jam with a minor gamy/barnyard edge. Good intensity, modest complexity but more syrah character than some of the other wines here. Nicely gamy notes emerge with a saline edge to them, perhaps a touch of caper as well. Smooth and very polished, really refined and elegant with a bright core of sweet blackberry fruits, judiciously used oak spice, and a lovely high flourish of green herbs, forest floor and anise. Falls a bit on the finish while the tannins build. A nice bit of tarry minerality on the final then a sneaky return of spicy black raspberry completes the finale. Solid and very well made, a very good value. 91pts
Member Reviews for Luca Syrah
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2006 Luca Laborde Syrah 93 points Robert Parker Jr's "The Wine Advocate", December 2008 "Purple in color, it has a superb perfume of wood smoke, toasty blueberries, spice box, and earth notes. Hermitage-like, it is elegantly-styled, layered, and ripe. There is enough structure for another 2-3 years of bottle age and it should be at its best from 2011 to 2020." 2006 Luca Laborde Syrah 91 points Wine Spectator, September 2008 "Rich, toasty, ambitious style, with lots of flashy mocha, blueberry compote, blackberry and boysenberry fruit. Lushly textured, with a long, creamy finish that lets the exotic fruit echo."
External Reviews for Luca Syrah
Dark, inky purple core with a vibrant rim. Spicy aromas of caramel, licorice, cardamom and nutmeg around rich plum and blackberry with a smoked ham and white pepper punch. Big in the mouth but with great balance. A hint of nickel and minerals come in... Mike Supple. A Syrah wine from Mendoza in Argentina. 2006 Luca Syrah Laborde Double Select 750ml
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