Burgaud, Bernard
Rhone, France
Cote-Rotie
Syrah
1997
$33.99
12.5%
The black core is a touch cloudy, certainly fully opaque, dull brick red rims, overall not that aged in appearance. Boisterous nose of cracked pepper, olive tapenade, grapefruit pith, slightly roasted cherry to plum fruit, burnt grill fat, not afraid to get in there and mix things up. Medium-bodied, the acidity keeps it fresh throughout, vicious cut in the blood orange to grapefruit citrus. Crazy smoky and earthy with olive, tar, tea leaf notes and then a baking spice lift. The more you sip the more the tannin builds on the tongue. On the whole it's compact and wiry. The way the cherry, Italian plum to currant fruit lasts indicates many years yet ahead.
91 points