Syrah, Kusuda Wines 2013

Planted in 1992/93, Saleyard is Hiro’s own block. The summer of 2013 vintage was quite warm and dry (not as hot as 2009). The grapes were harvested in pristine condition without being overripe. Hand-picked with rigorous and careful selection, and hand-sorted with extreme precision. 92% destemmed, cold soaked for three to four days without crushing. Fermented in open stainless-steel vats with pumping-over and hand-plunging, total period of maceration 25-27 days. Aged in French (23% new) oak barriques for 21 months. Unfined and bottled after coarse filtration. 307 dozen bottles produced. TA 5.2 g/l. Dark crimson. Super-appetising black-peppery nose. Bone dry in a convincing northern Rh�ne sort of way. Masses of energy. Really very fine. Beautifully fine-boned and already approachable. Follow-through on the palate. Vibrant and dry. Relatively lightweight. Fresh, a bit sinewy. Very youthful and the opposite of pushy. Dry finish. Silky and salty. Drink: 2016 to 2022.