2016 Pago Garduna Syrah

Their Syrah bottling is a bit of a chameleon and seems to take on a very different character depending on the vintage. The 2016 Pago la Garduña revealed notes of beef blood and iron, closer to a cool-climate Northern Rhône, with chalky and fine-grained tannins and good varietal expression. The nose is quite complex, nuanced and changed with time in the glass, making it very attractive to smell. The palate is medium to full-bodied, and the oak is neatly integrated. It finishes clean and with a long aftertaste. 9,121 bottles, 352 magnums and 30 double magnums produced. It was bottled in May 2018.

That this is a big wine is the first thing to note. The nose is saturated in barbecued meat, chorizo, black pepper, blackberry pie, elderberry reduction, plum liqueur and loads of resin. Nevertheless, there’s no hint of anything overripe and everything is well integrated. The palate, meanwhile, isn’t a blockbuster and takes on a more compact guise, even if it packs in muscular tannins and a wealth of dark fruit. Full-bodied and long, yet dialed-in on the finish. Superb. Drink now.