2014 Equinoxe Syrah

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• 91 points

  This wine is inspired by the masters of the northern Rhône, and takes the route of a blend of sub-appellations rather than a single vineyard expression. Hedgerow and bramble notes are joined by savoury, mulchy scents. Delicious and pure, it has an intensity of undergrowth, tobacco, cedar and black fruit in the mouth which comes across with freshness and length. Aged in French oak barrels and puncheons, 56% new.

  Drinking Window 2018 – 2024

   

• 93 points

  56% new oak here, but the wine swallows it well. Lush, fresh, floral black cherry fruit with some olive tapenade and some peppery notes. Has ripness but also some muscle, as well as some oak. This should age really well. Impressive, although the oak sticks out a tiny bit. Superb, given a bit more time.

• 93 Points

  Equinoxe takes its cue from the astronomical equinox “the only times when the edge between night and day is perpendicular to the equator and as a result, the northern and southern hemispheres are equally illuminated.” At Le Vieux Pin winemaker Severine Pinte says her Équinoxe is about equal day, equal night. Equal heat of the day, equal cold of the night. Equal New World, equal Old World. I say it’s Next World. This is a blockbuster syrah with fruit taken from various sub-appellations in the South Okanagan Valley: the Black Sage Bench and Osoyoos West Bench, East Bench and Lake District. If anything, it’s a bit richer than the 2013 and most certainly one of the best in the valley. Equinox is a balance of power and elegance, perfectly aged in 56 percent new French oak barrels and puncheons and 44 percent used barrels. Ripe but savoury, floral, black cherry and tobacco mark the nose while the palate is a mix of blueberries and fine-grained tannins. Roasted leg of lamb is the perfect match.

• 92 Points

  Le Vieux Pin’s 2014 top end syrah “Equinox”, aged in barrel, half new, is a serious and brooding, dark and dense expression from this warm southern Okanagan vintage (1/4 from the Black Sage Bench and 3/4 from Osoyoos). It offers thick blueberry and blackberry extract on the palate, pine resin and cracked black pepper spice, smoked meat and violet essence, while tannins are plush and very ripe and acids balanced enough to keep the ensemble buoyant and lively. Wood is not a significant flavour influence but it’s still tightly wound and far from its maximum expression to be sure, so be sure to tuck in the cellar for another 2-3 years, or hold into the mid-late twenties without a stretch. A serious BC syrah all in all, which would be comfortable on the table alongside any top level (more restrained) South Australian or Californian examples.

• 93 points

  At le Vieux Pin winemaker Severine Pinte says her Équinoxe is about equal day, equal night. Equal heat of the day, equal cold of the night. Equal New World, equal Old World. I say it’s Next World. This is a blockbuster syrah with fruit taken from various sub-appellations in the South Okanagan Valley: the Black Sage Bench and Osoyoos West Bench, East Bench and Lake District. If anything, it’s a bit richer than the 2013 and most certainly one of the best in the valley. Equinox is a balance of power and elegance, perfectly aged in 56 percent new French oak barrels and puncheons and 44 percent used barrels. Ripe but savoury, floral, black cherry and tobacco mark the nose while the palate is a mix of blueberries and fine-grained tannins. Roasted leg of lamb is the perfect match.

• 91 points

  Following up on the steps of the highly praised 2013 vintage, the 2014 Équinoxe Syrah does not disappoint. It’s layered, powerful without going overboard, showing beautiful dark fruit and lots of savoury and spicy notes. My only disappointment is that I had to drink it so early: highly cellar-worthy.

• 94 points

  This has a ripe, gorgeous nose of ripe blueberry/black cherry fruit coddled with fine French oak spice, pepper and underlying herbs and smoked meat. It has fine fragrance indeed. It is full bodied, fairly dense, creamy and warm with fine, firm tannin, and minerality on the drying finish. The length is excellent to outstanding. Try a bottle now then cellar the rest. Best 2019 to 2026.