The 2009 Syrah is quite successful this year, not particularly deep, but elegant and tasty, with some touches of oak around the edges. This is quite delicious, with a bright, juicy succulence to the earthy and flavorful finish. When I expected it to fade, it didn’t. The more I tasted it, the more I wanted to drink it. This would be my pick of the 2009 regular monovarietals this year. It is at a nice price point, too. Drink now-2017. Cortes de Cima’s regular entrants showed quite well this year, the 2009s proving to be a rather successful vintage there. When I first tasted these in Portugal, they didn’t show overly well. A few months to pull themselves together helped a lot as the USA retastings went very well.Importers: Tri-Vin Imports, Mt. Vernon, NY; tel. (914) 664-3155; Vinos Unico, San Francisco, CA; tel. (415) 531-3419; Vinum Wine Importers, Seattle, WA; tel. (206) 621-8843.

A wine that revels in the open, juicy, dark fruits, the sweet tannins and its perfumed character. Soft black cherry jam goes with attractive acidity and a final burst of dark tannins. ——R.V.(8/1/2011)—— 88