Guest Review - Porcupine Ridge Syrah 2012

AND NOW FOR THE TREAT! A guest review from one of our L's! Happy Halloween!

Since M is pregnant, she asked if I would do the honours of picking my favourite wine, perhaps from Canada, and write a review for the wine blog. Truthfully, my favourite wine of all time is Henry of Pelham's Baco Noir Reserve, ca. 2006. Now clearly this was a long time ago, and even in 2007 it was an almost exclusive wine at select restaurants. I thought of a few more choice Canadian wines I've thoroughly enjoyed over the last 10 years( As of Monday Oct 21st!) and found very few, with most of them from tiny wineries in Niagara-on-the-Lake that hardly had a chance to see the fluorescent light of the inside of the LCBO. So, to solve this problem I went to the source - Miss LCBO.

 Now, I didn't have a plan per se. I know I like deep, rich reds, so that was the only criterion I had set out for myself. After perusing the small vintage section I stumbled upon a highly praised and reasonably priced selection from South Africa - Porcupine Ridge Syrah - at a grad-student-friendly $14.95. This wine is made at Boekenhoutskloof Winery (wasn't that fun to try and say, even in your head?) and is of Swartland origin. The wine is named for the crested porcupines that are native to the region. The little LCBO sign told me it was a "Vintage Essential" and a "stellar value", and with a super adorable porcupine sketch on the label, how could I resist?  *(For enviro-conscious wine drinkers, this wine has "Integrity and Sustainability" certification.)                                           

 

 

In the past I haven't had much luck with wines from South Africa, but I have to say this wine was exceptional. The colour is a deep plum, with an amaranth or deep raspberry glow. The body and texture of the wine are just as complex and deep as the colour. It is smoky and very smooth, beginning with a taste of blackberry followed by a bit of spice or pepper, ending on notes of vanilla and the hint of (French) oak (you can tell the oak is super-classy! lol). There is zilch in the way of that tart, acidic aftertaste most grad-student-friendly priced wines often have. It's a lovely, mellow wine that is perfect for sipping alone or with any meal. (This bottle lasted me 6 tastings! And I was satisfied each time - from sipping on its own to paring with Asian fare.)

I had initially looked at this wine because I wasn't sure I had encountered a 'Syrah' before but have since discovered it's just another way to say "Shiraz". I am typically not a fan of Shiraz as I often find them to be too bright, hot, young and acidic. This Syrah, however, has changed my mind. It's on my new favourites list and I look forward to my next encounter with a Syrah.  -L