Grapelive Daily Pick
By Kerry Winslow
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2007 Copain Syrah “Tous Ensemble” Mendocino County, California.
Wells Guthrie and Kevin McQuown have been making some of the great values in Syrah for many years now, as well as top of the line single vineyard cuvees, and this wine is a superb example of their commitment to high quality and ease on the wallet! 2007 being another fantastic vintage, reminds of other top years like 1994, 1999 and 2004 for Northern California regions, a vintage of sublime ripeness and intensity with depth and balance showing even now in these young wines. Copain’s “Tous Ensemble” is a rich and focused Syrah that is mouth filling and full of flavor with layers of boysenberry and racy red fruits that include savory currant, plum and cherry, while there is hints of pepper, lavender, flowers, blueberry, roasted coffee bean, smoke, wild meats and subtle sweet vanilla. This wine is very impressive and opens up like dark chocolate, nicely with refined tannins hidden well in the background along with a touch of acidity that hold it together and keep everything fresh and vibrant, while still being round and elegant. Bravo to the whole Copain team for providing us with a lovely Syrah that delivers all you’d want from a fine red at a super price. ($22 Est.) 92 Points, grapelive
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