Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaAmulet is a collaboration between Dwight Sick, and Penelope and Dylan Roche. The grapes are hand tended from the vine to the winery. Nothing much else is done to leave the fruit in a natural state through fermentation. The blend is 96/4 syrah/viognier, and production is a minuscule 88 x 6-packs. First, it gets a whole berry cold soak in one ton open top fermenters. After seven days, the must is gently warmed, and an indigenous fermentation complete with hand punch downs gently extracts tannins for 22 days. Finally, the grapes are pressed into 50 percent new and 50 percent second-fill French barrels to mature on the gross lees for 20 months. The nose comes with sweet spice and floral notes. The attack is rich with textured red and black fruit, terrific acidity, and fine overall balance, a Dwight Sick calling card. A classy interpretation of a northern Rhone syrah that will get even better in the bottle. The medallion on Amulet bottles is a replica recast of the original hand-struck Gold Angel coin from the Elizabethan era. First appearing in 1470, the coin depicts St Michael slaying an evil dragon. Rumoured to be Shakespeare's preferred payment method for his services, the gold coin was also frequently worn as an amulet to ward off evil and bring good luck to those in its possession.Tasted: 17 August 2021Tasted by: Prices:
BC
$62.52
750ml
winery direct
Producer: Roche WinesDistributors: The Wine Syndicate Grape: Shiraz/SyrahUPC: 711841978808
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis syrah, from Oliver's Suncrest Vineyard Oliver, is topped with 4% Viognier off Naramata's Kozier Vineyard. After destemming and a 7 day cold soak, this was native fermented over 3 weeks before pressing into French oak barrels (50% new, 50% 2nd fill), where it remained for the following 24 months or so. It was bottled unfined and unfiltered, with minimal SO2 addition in July 2021. Big and brooding, with ample violet duskiness and fragrance permeating big blackberry, cassis, pipe tobacco on the medium+ palate. Tannins are big but well integrated, with a grip up front, yet finishing with a velvet plumpness on the lingering, spiced, warming finish. Quite polished, and a good deal of freshness for such a big syrah.Tasted: 07 October 2021Tasted by: Prices:
BC
$62.52
750ml
winery direct
Producer: Roche WinesDistributors: The Wine Syndicate Grape: Shiraz/SyrahUPC: 711841978808
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaAmulet is the passion project of winemaker Dwight Sick, with a singular focus on Rhône-inspired wines. Quantities are minuscule and almost exclusively available through Roche Wines, where the brand makes its home, though you may luck out and find the wines at select restaurants, too. The Syrah is a new release for the brand, with fruit sourced from Suncrest Vineyard along Tuc-El-Nuit Road in Oliver. This shows beautifully defined bramble and blueberry alongside savoury spices and an aromatic floral lift, with four percent viognier blended in from Kozier Vineyard on the Naramata Bench. The oak is present but harmoniously balanced with the fruit weight to effortlessly carry the 50% new French barriques. Even with that fruit ripeness, this still is restrained, elegant, and vibrant. What stands out most of all is the texture: supple, silky, polished, seamless, and complete. It's a joy to drink now but a wine that you will regret not having more of in your cellar. In short, another wow wine from Dwight. Only 88 six-packs produced.Tasted: 23 September 2021Tasted by: Prices:
BC
$62.52
750ml
winery direct
Producer: Roche WinesDistributors: The Wine Syndicate Grape: Shiraz/SyrahUPC: 711841978808
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