2007 National Tasting Project - Final Report Sensuous Syrah

摘要

Intriguing and sensuous in both origins and tastes, Syrah offers great pleasure and value. It is robust and muscular, almost brazen, with exuberant and potent flavors. And, except for wine from famous French regions and wineries, Syrah is a relative bargain. The Syrah grape produces full, rich, chewy wines of intense flavor and color (deep-violet to nearly black). In cooler climates like the Rhone Valley of France, Syrah wines have pepper, spice, wild herbs and berry flavors (blackberry, black raspberry, blueberry, black currant). In warmer climates like Australia, the wines produce flavors that are sweeter and riper - dark cherry, black fruit, licorice, chocolate, espresso and jammy notes. With aging, Syrah's flavors can become earthy or savory, such as truffle, cedar, leather, meat (particularly bacon) and cigar box. The NTP Committee categorized these flavors into three groups and provided a profile to help tasters describe and evaluate the wines.