2006 Luca Syrah Laborde Double Select Uco Valley
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(the cuttings here were originally brought from the northern Rhone Valley in the 1940s, and the average vine age is about 45 years) Good full medium ruby. Sexy aromas of black raspberry, blackberry, licorice and spicy, smoky oak, all lifted by a violet topnote. Juicy, spicy and energetic if a bit ungiving; the flavors of black fruits, spices and black pepper need time to unwind. Finishes with firm but essentially sweet tannins and good subtle chocolatey persistence. This may ultimately merit at 90+ rating.
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Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Jay S Miller, Wine Advocate
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The 2006 Laborde Double Select is a 100% Syrah cuvee sourced from the 45-year-old Laborde Vineyard. It was aged for 12 months in 50% new French oak and bottled without fining or filtration. Purple in color, it has a superb perfume of wood smoke, toasty blueberries, spice box, and earth notes. Hermitage-like, it is elegantly-styled, layered, and ripe. There is enough structure for another 2-3 years of bottle age and it should be at its best from 2011 to 2020. Luca is the personal project of Laura Catena, M.D., daughter of Nicolas Catena, the founder of Catena-Zapata. Importer: Vine Connections, Sausalito, CA; tel. (415) 332-8466