John Szabo, MS 2014 EQ Syrah

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.