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| Rob Williams - Merlots and Syrahs | ||
Rob's "Wine of the Week" Archives So here is my wine review for the week of May 1st, 2006... VIADER NAPA VALLEY SYRAH 2004
Description: Viader had a tough year, complete with a warehouse fire that destroyed much of their 2004 bottlings. Admittedly, this is a tough wine to find on a normal year due to the reputation of their signature Viader proprietary belnd of cab and cab franc, this year will be especially difficult. How to Get it: Viader's website, some speciality stores and on-line retailers are your best bet. How Much: It's about $50-60 per bottle. My Thoughts: Viader's flagship blend is easily one of the most reliably great wines to come out of Napa every year. However, as Viader has branched out into its "V" blend, its Temperanillo and the Syrah, the quality has simply not followed, although the high end Viader price has. This is a tight Syrah, to be fair, aging will help it, but it is overpowered by its plum/prune tastes and lacks the body and spice of a great Syrah. Great red wines that you need to "chew," like this one, also need to be accompanied by that overwhelmingly bold yet smooth finish of vanilla and oak. The finish on this one is something resembling chalky chocolate.
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