Silverback Vineyards 2011 Reserve Syrah - 99pts

Silverback Vineyards 2011 Reserve Syrah (Columbia Valley AVA) - Washington State

Availability: Not yet available in BC. Contact winery direct here
Cost: $240 (USD)
Alcohol: 15%
Production: 55 cases
Date Tasted: August 12th, 2012
Re-tasted: June 3rd, 2013

Tasting Notes: From a barrel sample. Winemaker Charles Herrold decided to experiment with one barrel of his 100% free-run Syrah production from the 2011 vintage using a Bordeaux yeast normally reserved for Cabernet Sauvignon and the results are truly stunning. Violets, tar, cherry, licorice and citrus characters galore. Glaetzer's Amon-Ra springs to mind but with more concentration and length, if that is even conceivable. Bold, rich and absolutely gorgeous, this inky-purple Syrah is sure to become a cult classic. Only 55 cases have been produced so you may be hard-pressed to get your hands on it. If you do, you'll want to wait another 1-2 years+ before opening for your investment to pay dividends. Drink 2015-2026+.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2012 IconWines.ca

Re-tasting Notes: The wine is awaking from its Spring bottling-induced slumber with a roar, though I still recommend another 1-2 years in the bottle before opening. Should you choose to open now you'll find a powerfully elegant wine bursting with restrained intensity and dense, dense dark fruit flavours effortlessly balanced by its expertly-tuned oak program.

So close to "perfect" that 99 points may seem like a slight to the producer - and truthfully, no change to this wine could truly improve on what's already in the bottle. Vintage conditions and a presumptive successful track record, however, do leave room for future perfection.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2013 IconWines.ca

Silverback Vineyards 2010 Syrah - 95pts



Silverback Vineyards 2010 Syrah (Columbia Valley AVA)  - Washington State

Availability: Not yet available in BC. Contact winery direct here
Cost: $80 (USD)
Alcohol: 14.8%
Production: 200 cases
Date Tasted: August 12th, 2012
Re-tasted: March 31st, 2013

Tasting Notes: From a barrel sample. A dark, intense, ruby-coloured Syrah with a medium purple rim and a lovely sheen. Pulls you into its web at first sniff with layers of dark fruit, violets, tar, licorice, vanilla, subtle allspice and vibrant citrus notes. An excellent prelude to the concentrated palate that offers superb acidity and balance with fine tannins and long-lasting, spicy dark fruit flavours that roll around your mouth with youthful abandon.

Fruit was cropped down to 2.5 tonnes per acre, cold fermented and then aged in 100%, 2nd fill French oak. Will be approachable upon its release in early 2013, but the patient among you will reap the benefits of 2-3 more years of bottle age. Drink 2014-2020+.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2012 IconWines.ca

Re-tasting Notes: On par with the Columbia Valley's premium Syrah labels like Long Shadows' "Sequel". Intense and bold with fabulous concentration and length. Still youthful, though the extra 7 months of age has helped integrate the French oak and fine tannins.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2013 IconWines.ca

Silverback Vineyards 2011 Chardonnay - 94+pts



Silverback Vineyards 2011 Chardonnay (Wallula Vineyard) Horse Heaven Hills AVA  - Washington State

Availability: Not yet available in BC. Contact winery direct here
Cost: $55 (USD)
Alcohol: 13%
Production: 250 cases
Date Tasted: August 12th, 2012
Re-tasted: March 22nd, 2013

Tasting Notes: From a barrel sample. A feminine, single-vineyard Chardonnay with layers of dried roses, orchard fruit, citrus and melon aromas on the clean, elegant nose.

Cropped to 3.5 tonnes per acre and aged in both French and Hungarian oak with only minimal lees agitation for 6 months. As a result, the palate is exquisitely balanced with a subtle, ever-present texture allowing the fruit, mineral and oak influence flavours to sing in harmony with the mouth-watering, citrus melody.

Fans of Penfold's Yattarna Chardonnay should take note as the Silverback matches the elegance and refinement of the "white Grange" at roughly half the expected price of around $50-60. Built to age with further development a guarantee. Sky's the limit. Drink 2013-2021+.
 - Liam Carrier (with Jordan Carrier) ©copyright 2012 IconWines.ca

Re-tasting Notes: Exhibiting harmony and elegance on the nose with intense, yet gentle aromas when not served too cold and allowed time to open up. The palate starts soft with an even texture thanks to near perfect acidity, then builds to a greater intensity and length. Simply devine.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2013 IconWines.ca

Silverback Vineyards 2010 Sangiovese - 92pts

Silverback Vineyards 2010 Sangiovese (Desert Hills Vineyard) Columbia Valley AVA - Washington State

Availability: Not yet available in BC. Contact winery direct here
Cost: $55 (USD)
Alcohol: 14.2%
Production: 200 cases
Date Tasted: August 12th, 2012
Re-tasted: March 21st, 2013

Tasting Notes: From a barrel sample. What Washington State Sangiovese wines have over their Italian counterparts is an inherent joie de vivre. They are fun to drink and the life of the party while their Old World cousins can come across a tad serious at times. Silverback's version continues the trend with vibrant acidity, wild berry aromas and captures the essence of biting into a freshly picked green tomato - pure joy.

Aged in 500L American oak puncheons and sourced from the Desert Hills Vineyard near Grandview, Washington, this Sangiovese also shows depth of character with layers of crayon, boysenberry, huckleberry and churchwood (worn, yet cared-for old wood). May not age as long as the fuller-bodied and finely structured Silverback Syrahs and blends, but some further evolution is possible, if not probable. Drink 2013-2017.
 - Liam Carrier (with Jordan Carrier) ©copyright 2012 IconWines.ca

Re-tasting Notes: Now bottled and soon to be released, the Silverback Sangiovese remains a joy to drink; balanced, lively and bursting with wild berry flavours on the palate, while the nose offers layers of deep, red fruit aromas. Drinking beautifully now and should hold for another 3-4 years.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2013 IconWines.ca

Silverback Vineyards 2010 Référence - 94+pts

Silverback Vineyards 2010 Référence (Wallula Vineyard) Columbia Valley AVA - Washington State

Availability: Not yet available in BC. Contact winery direct here
Cost: $105 (USD)
Alcohol: 14.5%
Production: 270 cases
Date Tasted: August 12th, 2012
Re-tasted: March 8th, 2013

Tasting Notes: From a barrel sample. When winemaker Charles Herrold worked at the Langley based Blackwood Lane winery (he left in 2010), two truly amazing, benchmark Canadian wines were produced under his direction: the 2006 and 2007 "Referènce". When deciding to go it alone and move his talents to Washington State, Herrold chose to recreate the essence of that ultra-premium blend and even elevate its execution (while correcting the spelling of the name).

The resulting wine is a familiar blend of 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 12% Petit Verdot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 5% Malbec with Herrold's signature concentrated-yet-gentle and endlessly-layered graphite and dark fruit flavour profile. Classic Meritage berry fruit and savoury, gun powder and Christmas cake spice flavours add complexity to the finely tuned oak treatment and proprietary yeast program that Herrold employs. Ultra fine tannins and perfect acidity levels create a wine for enjoying in its youth or for aging 15+ years. Drink 2013-2025+.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2012 IconWines.ca

Re-tasting Notes: Now bottled and soon to be released, the Référence is showing its youth and needs a bit more time to unwind and integrate. Potential for further development remains grand and worthy of a cozy corner of your cellar. Drink mid-2013-2025+.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2013 IconWines.ca