2010 Luca Syrah Laborde Double Select

Wine Advocate
"92 pts ... It sports an expressive perfume of smoke, bacon, game, leather, pepper, and blueberry. Smooth-textured and elegant on the palate, this savory, ripe Syrah conceals enough structure to evolve for 2-3 years... It is an outstanding value."

Wine Spectator
"91 pts ... A dense, ripe Syrah, with a meaty core of macerated black plum, linzer torte and fig paste notes that display nuances of game, spice and tar. Light tannins lift the long, lingering finish."

Winemaker's Notes
"Beautiful deep purple color, tilting the glass the shallows are a soft rose. The nose is like walking into a gentlemen’s poker parlor: aromas of cigar, leather, and smoked meat fill the nose with hints of toasty oak, forest floor and baking spice. Rich, lush, and mouthfilling on the palate. Well structured tannins support big fruit flavors of blackberry jam, black spiced cherries, ground black pepper and just a hint of rhubarb. Nice, long, lingering finish. L3—lush, long and loveable. Pairs well with grilled or smoked meats such as beef, pork, and lamb, and dishes prepared with mild cheeses or wild mushrooms."

Technical Notes
"Over half a century ago, inspired viticulturist Luis Laborde created Argentina’s first Syrah vineyard planted through double massal selection. Laborde first traveled through France’s Rhone Valley and brought back a selection of the best mix of Syrah vines (not clones) back to Mendoza. After planting them in a local research vineyard and tracking each vine’s quality, he again selected the best of the best individual vines to plant in his own 10-acre vineyard in the Uco Valley. Laborde’s belief, shared among other leading viticulturists, was that vines lose much of their identity when reproduced through clonal selection (exact copies of DNA) since they originate from just one single vine. When a vineyard is planted from a mass selection of similar vines, but not copies, of the same variety, it adds a subtle diversity and complexity of flavors to the finished wine, much the same as brothers and sisters add flavor and interest to a single family. From vineyards at 3500 feet, 47 year old vines. Hand-harvested, no press wine. 14 months in 50% new and 50% 1 year old French oak barriques. Unfined, unfiltered. Acid 5.42 g/L; p.H. 3.62. 13.9% alc."