Kershaw, Clonal Selection Syrah, Elgin

Nicely mature, there’s still good fruit mixed with the black olive tapenade and dried herbs, resolved but plenty of life and should keep at this level for a while. It ends with a long savoury finish

Tasted at Rhone Roots event with many Rhone wines.Pleasantly gamey with chocolate and mushroom, maybe some violet. Berry fruits carry it through.

Nicely balanced fruity wine. Smell and taste of berries, velvet on the tongue and not too complex. A recommendation.

A bold, rich and elegant Syrah, aged for 17 months in FR oak barrels, unfiltered and unfined. Deep ruby colour. Medium intensity aroma of blackberries, cherries, raspberry hints, green pepper, rubber, tar, cassis, leather hints. Full body, medium density, elegant and silky, fresh bold black fruits with leathery and rubbery hints, velvety tannins, medium finish.

Terroir-istes Local - Syrah, Cape South Coast (Cape Town - Las Cases) : (Tasted Blind): A touch of reduction at first blows off to reveal black pepper, cola tonic and ripe red berries - some fragrance too. A soft and undulating entry sprinkled liberally in ground black pepper that is very accommodating and svelte. Complex, the wine is gentle in its gait with spices and more red fruits than black, giving elegance and refinement as it gently sits on smooth, …

Benchmarking Syrah from around the world against SA (Luddite Cellars) : A mid crimson colour with intense aromas of blackberry, raspberry, cracked black pepper and earthy edges. Rich and velvety, the berry core is folded over gravelly tannins that add a distinct minerality. Penetrating fruit and length. N/R as conflict of interest

Plum Market Spring Wine Extravaganza (Chicago, IL) : There's a bit of Sharpie marker on the nose here. High-toned, with some strawberry as well, but the palate here is bitter and a little disjoint.

Plum Market Luxury Tasting (Bad Hunter - Chicago IL) : Walk around tasting, brief note. Fleshy black fruit, just too ripe and one-dimensional for my preferences.

lots of syrah blackcurrant fruit but also a darker black olive note and length.

South Africa Trip October 2018; 10/3/2018-10/12/2018 (Western Cape, South Africa) : 5800 bottles made. 14% medium body. plenty going on here, tapenade, cured meats, black pepper and a whole spice box, lovely textural tannins, beautifully elegant and a great finish, this is a great vintage for Richards syrah