90POINTS
16½/20
Le Vieux Pin Syrah Cuvée Violette 2018
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis year's Cuvée Violette relies less on the characteristic violet blooms, and more on syrah's meaty, thorny, wild, and dark side. As with last year, this was fermented with 1% viognier, sharing grace and florals with the wine. This year's blend includes Le Faucon for the first time, and its presence is showing. The Cuvée was aged 10 months in unlined concrete and oak foudre, and then 6 more months in neutral French barriques. Dark soil, dusky cassis, sappy green branch, brooding violets and the aforementioned herbal thorniness lead this over a peppery, wild undercurrent, and framed with grippy, fine, firm tannins. Finishes long, and with a light hint of smoked bacon fat. Very much in youth, this is still drinking quite sharply now (give it some airtime to blow off its youthful reductive puff), but will reward with some time in your cellar.Tasted: 03 July 2020Tasted by: Prices:BC | $30.99 | 750ml | winery online, grocery, VQA and select private retailers |
Blend: Shiraz - ViognierCSPC: 770842UPC: 808755020478