2015 Syrah Cuvée Violette

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• 90 Points

  Cuvée Violette is always about its florals and often that means violets. The wine is a selection of like-minded fruit that is smooth and ready to drink. It’s co-fermented with 1 percent Roussanne to add some texture and freshness. Winemaker Severine Pinte calls it LVP’a feminine/graceful syrah, referring to it as “a syrah for pinot noir lovers.” I like the gentle collision of floral roasted meats and cracked pepper with earthy, savoury blackberry fruit. You can drink this now with grilled meats or give three to five more years in bottle to reach its zenith. Impressive without overpowering the drinker.

• 90 Points

  Aucune surprise ici. Un vin qui se démarque encore une fois et pour de bonnes raisons. Notes typiquement associées à la syrah de la vallée de l’Okanagan lorsqu’elle atteint son apogée. Un nez séducteur avec des arômes de violettes, myrtille, poivre blanc et une touche de notes sanguines. Tout en fraîcheur avec des tannins fermes mais intégrés. Mets l’eau à la bouche. Parfait pour le gibier.

• 90 Points

  This syrah impresses year after year. Although it’s not the “top” (most expensive) syrah cuvée from Le Vieux Pin, it tends to be my favourite for its beguiling floral perfume, juicy-fresh-sweet blackberry flavour and herbal twang. The 2015 shows solid freshness equalled by ripeness, silky-refined tannins and solid length. A winning style to be sure.

• 91 Points

  This is a lovely BC syrah made very much in a Rhone style with ripe dark fruit, dried smoked meat, pepper, capers and some minerality. It pours deep dark purple-black. It’s quite full bodied, fairly firm but not austere, with excellent length. Great syrah character.

• 90 points

  Cuvée Violette is always about its florals and often that means violets. The wine is a selection of like minded fruit that is smooth and ready to drink. It’s co-fermented with 1 percent roussanne to add some texture and freshness. Winemaker Severine Pinte calls it LVP’a feminine/graceful syrah, referring to it as “a syrah for pinot noir lovers.” I like the gentle collision of floral roasted meats and cracked pepper with earthy, savoury blackberry fruit. You can drink this now with grilled meats or give three to five more years in bottle to reach its zenith. Impressive without overpowering the drinker.

• This is a lovely fresh pure syrah with lively aromas of blackberry and blueberry fruit with red grapefruit, basil and hints of black pepper. It is midweight and juicy with soft acidity and fine tannin. Very good to excellent length. Try with roast lamb.

• 91 points

  This syrah impresses year after year. Although it’s not the “top” (most expensive) syrah cuvée from Le Vieux Pin, it tends to be my favourite for its beguiling floral perfume, juicy-fresh-sweet black berry flavour and herbal twang. The 2015 shows solid freshness equalled by ripeness, silky-refined tannins and solid length. A winning style to be sure.

• 91 points

  This is a lovely BC syrah made very much in a Rhone style with ripe dark fruit, dried smoked meat, pepper, capers and some minerality. It pours deep dark purple black. It’s quite full bodied, fairly firm but not austere, with excellent length. Great syrah character.

• 92 points

  Cuvée Violette is composed of the same intensely floral-aromatic syrah and same scant one per cent roussanne folded in from three locales; Black Sage Bench, Osoyoos Lake District and Golden Mile Bench. Time in barrel (14 months) is consistent with previous incarnations but the number of new oak is down to eight per cent (from 15) in 2015. The floral component is lifted, elevated and prettier than before, more energy abounds from and then bounds off the palate. This is seamless juice with a braised pork belly note perfumed by exotica and even a slight bit of rubbery reduction. Though there is great tang and spice to taste it dissipates and leaves just fruit behind, namely umeboshi plum, followed by a finish of salt brine and a long, fine line. Drink 2018-2022.