Christopher Tynan Wines
Judge Family Vineyard Syrah
Bennett Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Consistent both days though more of the typical Syrah characteristics seemed to be more pronounced on Day 2. The 2017 “Judge Family Vineyard” pours a deep, ruby purple color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with heady notes of black and blue fruits: blackberries, mulberries, Marion berries, blueberries, and plums along with black pepper, olive brine, incense, new leather and fine baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and immensely satisfying. This continues to be an utterly delicious example of Syrah from the New World with unmistakeable nods to the Old World. At this point, it still continues to benefit greatly from a few hours of air. Drink now with lots of patience and through 2037.
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Consistent both days though more of the typical Syrah characteristics seemed to be more pronounced on Day 2. The 2017 “Judge Family Vineyard” pours a deep, ruby purple color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with heady notes of black and blue fruits: blackberries, mulberries, Marion berries, blueberries, and plums along with black pepper, olive brine, incense, new leather and fine baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and immensely satisfying. This continues to be an utterly delicious example of Syrah from the New World with unmistakeable nods to the Old World. At this point, it still continues to benefit greatly from a few hours of air. Drink now with lots of patience and through 2037.
Aug 10th, 2024Popped and poured; enjoyed over an hour period. The 2017 “Judge Family Vineyard” leaps right out of the gate and stands with proud, unwavering confidence. It pours a deep ruby/purple with a near opaque core. Medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears. On the nose, a lovely, powerful mix of ripe black and blue fruits: dark brambles, blueberries, deli-case, black pepper, lavender, new leather, and soft baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. There is deft balance here. The fruit is so beautiful, so pure and the structure plays the equitable supporting role, no pun intended. The finish is long and there is sublime texture. This is a statement wine from Tynan and consistent with my previous experience from 18 months ago. Drink now through 2037.
Popped and poured; enjoyed over an hour period. The 2017 “Judge Family Vineyard” leaps right out of the gate and stands with proud, unwavering confidence. It pours a deep ruby/purple with a near opaque core. Medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears. On the nose, a lovely, powerful mix of ripe black and blue fruits: dark brambles, blueberries, deli-case, black pepper, lavender, new leather, and soft baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. There is deft balance here. The fruit is so beautiful, so pure and the structure plays the equitable supporting role, no pun intended. The finish is long and there is sublime texture. This is a statement wine from Tynan and consistent with my previous experience from 18 months ago. Drink now through 2037.
Dec 25th, 2023An experience I've looked forward to each of the last four years, this is my first impression of the most recent release of Judge Family Vineyard Syrah from Christopher Tynan. Popped and poured, the 2017 vintage pours a deep purple color with an utterly opaque core. Medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears. The nose alone is spellbinding. Bursting with black and blue fruits; blackberries over blueberries over dark plums along with veritable fields of lavender. A deli case packed with saucisson encrusted with Herbs de Provence. There’s some rotundone and some very pretty hints of vanilla bean for good measure. It’s hard to imagine the palate being quite as exciting and yet, this wine keeps delivering more. The aforementioned fruit-set is confirmed and stuffs the mouth in beautifully ripened fruit. Again, the lavender and vanilla are well on display with some olive and black pepper in the mix too. The wine is bone dry with gritty tannins that I would place at medium+. The acid, which I would also place at medium+, acts as a bustier, giving everything a real proper and sexy lift. The finish is Ben-Hur in length and significance. Coming as no surprise, the 2017 is a worthy follow-up to the previous three vintages from this vineyard which, under the supervision of Tynan, has become for me, one of the greatest Syrahs from California. Better with some air, this can be enjoyed now but will be fabulous for years to come. My next bottle after 2027.
An experience I've looked forward to each of the last four years, this is my first impression of the most recent release of Judge Family Vineyard Syrah from Christopher Tynan. Popped and poured, the 2017 vintage pours a deep purple color with an utterly opaque core. Medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears. The nose alone is spellbinding. Bursting with black and blue fruits; blackberries over blueberries over dark plums along with veritable fields of lavender. A deli case packed with saucisson encrusted with Herbs de Provence. There’s some rotundone and some very pretty hints of vanilla bean for good measure. It’s hard to imagine the palate being quite as exciting and yet, this wine keeps delivering more. The aforementioned fruit-set is confirmed and stuffs the mouth in beautifully ripened fruit. Again, the lavender and vanilla are well on display with some olive and black pepper in the mix too. The wine is bone dry with gritty tannins that I would place at medium+. The acid, which I would also place at medium+, acts as a bustier, giving everything a real proper and sexy lift. The finish is Ben-Hur in length and significance. Coming as no surprise, the 2017 is a worthy follow-up to the previous three vintages from this vineyard which, under the supervision of Tynan, has become for me, one of the greatest Syrahs from California. Better with some air, this can be enjoyed now but will be fabulous for years to come. My next bottle after 2027.
Mar 5th, 2022
