2018 Horsepower, The Tribe Vineyard Syrah, Walla Walla Valley, Washington, USA

2018 Horsepower, The Tribe Vineyard Syrah, Walla Walla Valley, Washington, USA

Product: 20188012052
Prices start from £153.50 per bottle (75cl). Buying options
2018 Horsepower, The Tribe Vineyard Syrah, Walla Walla Valley, Washington, USA

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Description

8,820 bottles were produced.

The 2018 Syrah, The Tribe Vineyard, opens with a smoky and stemmy nose of bacon fat, black pepper, dusty plum blossom, spicy cherry compote and black raspberry skin tossed in smoked herbs. Medium to full-bodied, this Syrah reveals a firm mineral tension and drying tannins that will be food-friendly in youth or allow it to age for more than a decade. The wine ends with a firm tannic grip that lingers with a spicy and stemmy expression. Give this a year or two in the cellar before opening, and decant for at least 30 minutes before enjoying. The wine rested for 24 months in neutral French oak barrels. 

Drink 2023 - 2038

Anthony Mueller, Wine Advocate (July 2021)

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Critics reviews

Wine Advocate95/100

8,820 bottles were produced.

The 2018 Syrah, The Tribe Vineyard, opens with a smoky and stemmy nose of bacon fat, black pepper, dusty plum blossom, spicy cherry compote and black raspberry skin tossed in smoked herbs. Medium to full-bodied, this Syrah reveals a firm mineral tension and drying tannins that will be food-friendly in youth or allow it to age for more than a decade. The wine ends with a firm tannic grip that lingers with a spicy and stemmy expression. Give this a year or two in the cellar before opening, and decant for at least 30 minutes before enjoying. The wine rested for 24 months in neutral French oak barrels. 

Drink 2023 - 2038

Anthony Mueller, Wine Advocate (July 2021)

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James Suckling95/100

Plums, incense, smoke and spices on the nose. Medium-bodied with fine tannins. Smoky and savoury with an inky note in the mouth. It remains balanced and juicy with a flavorful finish. Chewy, too, yet there’s polish and tension at the end with softness and intensity. 

Drink in 2023 and onwards.

James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com (July 2021)

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Jeb Dunnuck96+/100

Another backward, closed wine, the 2018 Syrah The Tribe Vineyard has loads of savoury red and black fruits, crushed violets, cured meats, and peppery herb-like aromas and flavours, with a beautiful underpinning of iron and rocking minerality. Medium to full-bodied and beautifully balanced on the palate, with present yet ripe tannins, give this singular yet also classic, meaty Syrah 2-4 years in the cellar and enjoy over the following 10-15 years.

Drink 2023 - 2028

Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com (May 2021)

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Stephen Tanzer92+/100

Bright, dark red. Complex, inviting scents of red and black fruits, violet, black pepper, mulch, smoked meat and olive tapenade. It is concentrated and quite balsamic, conveying a distinct peppery dryness to its dark berries, spices and violet flavours. Juicier than the High Contrast Syrah, but will this leaner, more obviously tannic gain in sweet fruit and pliancy? Less generous in the middle palate and on the finish but shows very good persistence.

Drink 2025 - 2032

Stephen Tanzer, Vinous.com (June 2021)

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About this WINE

Horsepower Vineyards

Horsepower Vineyards

Located in Walla Walla Valley, Washington, USA, Horsepower Vineyards was founded by Christophe Baron, a French vigneron and winemaker regarded for his dedication to traditional winemaking techniques and biodynamic farming practices. Baron is also the proprietor of Cayuse Vineyards, another esteemed regional winery.

The vineyards, predominantly Syrah, are situated on the southern side of the Walla Walla Valley. The unique terroir of the area, characterised by well-drained, stony soils and a distinct microclimate, contributes to the production of exceptional wines.

One key feature that sets Horsepower Vineyards apart is its commitment to using traditional, labour-intensive methods in winemaking. The vineyard is known for using draft horses to plow the fields, hence the name "Horsepower." This dedication to old-fashioned techniques and the utmost attention to detail in both the vineyard and the cellar contribute to the distinctive character of their wines.

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Walla Walla Valley

Walla Walla Valley

In the southeastern part of Washington State, USA, Walla Walla Valley is a prominent and acclaimed wine-producing region extending into northeastern Oregon. The valley’s viticultural roots date back to the mid-19th century, making it one of the oldest wine regions in the Pacific Northwest.

A semi-arid climate with hot summers and cold winters characterizes the region. It also benefits from the Cascade Mountain Range to the west, which shields the valley from excessive rainfall, creating an ideal environment for grape cultivation. The dry and sunny conditions contribute to the development of ripe and flavorful grapes, while cool nights help to preserve acidity, resulting in balanced and vibrant wines.

The valley’s diverse soils, primarily composed of loess (wind-blown silt) and well-draining basalt, create a patchwork of terroirs that add complexity and character to the wines. Additionally, ancient flood deposits contribute to the valley’s fertile landscape, further supporting grapevine growth.

Walla Walla Valley is renowned for its red wines, particularly Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah, which thrive in the region’s climate and soils. These red varieties are known for their rich fruit flavors, supple tannins, and aging potential. Excellent white wines, such as Chardonnay and Riesling, are also produced, which benefit from the valley’s diurnal temperature variation and well-drained soils.

The wine is characterized by a strong sense of community and collaboration among winemakers, fostering a culture of quality and innovation. Many wineries in the region are small, family-owned operations dedicated to handcrafted and sustainable winemaking practices.

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Syrah/Shiraz

Syrah/Shiraz

A noble black grape variety grown particularly in the Northern Rhône where it produces the great red wines of Hermitage, Cote Rôtie and Cornas, and in Australia where it produces wines of startling depth and intensity. Reasonably low yields are a crucial factor for quality as is picking at optimum ripeness. Its heartland, Hermitage and Côte Rôtie, consists of 270 hectares of steeply terraced vineyards producing wines that brim with pepper, spices, tar and black treacle when young. After 5-10 years they become smooth and velvety with pronounced fruit characteristics of damsons, raspberries, blackcurrants and loganberries.

It is now grown extensively in the Southern Rhône where it is blended with Grenache and Mourvèdre to produce the great red wines of Châteauneuf du Pape and Gigondas amongst others. Its spiritual home in Australia is the Barossa Valley, where there are plantings dating as far back as 1860. Australian Shiraz tends to be sweeter than its Northern Rhône counterpart and the best examples are redolent of new leather, dark chocolate, liquorice, and prunes and display a blackcurrant lusciousness.

South African producers such as Eben Sadie are now producing world- class Shiraz wines that represent astonishing value for money.

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