2009 Kongsgaard Syrah Hudson Vineyard
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Tasting notes
(16% alcohol; 3.9 pH; 7.2 TA; a vintage with a very small crop, according to Kongsgaard): Bright, saturated medium ruby. The nose reveals amazing high notes for a hot year, offering subdued but pure and complex scents of black raspberry, spices, pepper, herbs and flinty minerality; very northern Rhone in style. A superconcentrated, wonderfully juicy midweight on the palate, conveying a brilliant impression of energy and definition for such a high-octane, high-pH wine. Savory dark berry, licorice and mineral character carries through to a palate-saturating finish without any excess weight. The tannins show wonderful refinement. "This is fancy and delicate, while the 2008 is more brawny and grand," Kongsgaard offered.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
John Kongsgaard's 2009 Syrah from Hudson Vineyard, in the southern part of Napa, had a little of both, or better said a lot of both. It was deeply reflective of place, but also incredibly varietally expressive. Dazzling pretty much sums it up. This was a stunning flight.
This was a pretty strange choice considering that fine California wine is, regrettably, such a rarity in the UK and I for one don't think I have seen a single bottle of the estimable John Kongsgaard's wines here. Furthermore, Carneros Syrah is not exactly a classic combo. It was obviously warm climate Syrah/Shiraz and I was not alone in putting it firmly in Australia (we see about 500 Aussie Shirazes for every California Syrah here in the UK). The nose is warm and leathery and the palate sweet with some as-yet-unresolved tannin. Characterful wine and kind of Mr Kongsgaard to airfreight it to London for our delectation. (JR)
Good full ruby. Wild, exotic aromas of black cherry, blueberry, smoked meat, truffle, black olive and violet; if the 2010 smells like Hermitage, this is more Cote-Rotie. Harmonious, pliant and suave, showing captivating floral lift to its flavors of black cherry, blueberry and white pepper. Less muscular than the 2010 version and easier to enjoy today. The rising, sappy, subtly complex finish features firm but utterly silky tannins. Last year I suggested that this essence of syrah had the best nose of any wine I tasted on my late-winter tour. I'm happy to report that it's at least as impressive--and flamboyant--in the bottle. A great California syrah in a northern Rhone style.