DAGON | Sirocco | Syrah | 2020
syrah

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Today we are are going to review a single varietal syrah wine from the famous Dealu Mare region of Romania – Sirocco Syrah 2020 by Dagon Estate. In a world where bolder is better, syrah is the perfect choice, as it is darker and spicier than cabernet sauvignon and contains a high amounts of health-invigorating antioxidants. Syrah, also known as Shiraz, can be vinified in two major styles: old-world style and new-world style. The old-world syrah wines tend to have more acidity and displays earthy-herbaceous aromas on the nose, while the new-world shiraz wines are usually dusty and fruit-forward, with lots of spice and nuanced hints of smoke. The grapes for this particular wine were sourced from the young syrah vines, planted on sandy-rich soils on the slopes of Valea Nucetului in Urlati (Prahova county). What makes this wine truly special is that it has been vinified in the so called ‘low intervention‘ style, fermented using only ambient yeast (also called wild yeast), where the winemaker is trying to emphasize the grape variety and the local terroir, rather than imposing his ‘fingerprint’. In order to add a layer of extra complexity and sophistication, the final wine has been aged for 24 months in used romanian oak barriques. Needless to mention that it has been produced in a very limited edition of only 1170 bottles. That said and without further ado, let’s take a look at the wine tasting results.
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Take a look at the tasting notes below and our detailed assessment of the wine:

//Visual
color: medium-deep ruby color
clarity: hazy ruby shades at the rim

//Olfactory
intensity: pronounced & leathery-irony
fruit character: ripe

On the first nose, this wine offers a surprising and somewhat challenging first impression. The most prominent aromas are leathery and irony notes, evoking the image of a well-worn saddle or aged cured meats. Hints of wild berry fruits, like blackberry or dark cherry, peek through these savory aromas, adding a touch of richness. But this is not a fruit-forward wine by any means, as earthy and savory undertones dominate in the background as well, suggesting pencil lead, damp soil or aged barnyard hay. These earthy elements mingle with quite pronounced oaky undertones, like toasted oakwood and charred wood, hinting at significant time spent aging in oak barrels.

//Palate
sweetness: dry | acidity: high | alcohol: medium+ | tannin: medium+ | balance: good
finish: medium+ | aftertaste: bitter-sweet

The palate mirrors the nose, with an initial wave of those intriguing leathery and irony flavors, though they are less pronounced here. Instead, notes of wildberry and cranberry come to the forefront, offering a burst of exuberant acidity. Pronounced hints of oak emerge with each sip with notes of cloves, nutmeg and anise, adding complexity and sophistication. The wine’s acidity is lively and exuberant, and cuts through the richness of the fruit beautifully, while the tannins are ripe and well-integrated, providing structure without harshness. A touch of slightly overwhelming alcoholic warmth adds depth and power. The finish is long and complex, with a rich, bittersweet character that lingers for a while.

//Verdict
maturity: developing | drink now or in the next 2-3 years
verdict: fine | highly recommended | a wine of premium quality with good potential

Overall, this syrah presents itself as a crowd-pleaser wine with a lush and plump mouthfeel and an easy-drinking style. However, in its current state, it lacks the elegance and varietal typicity that defines a top-tier syrah wine. While some drinkers might enjoy the unique savory character, others might find it overwhelming. We believe that this wine might benefit from further cellaring to allow its structural elements to round up and integrate further into the wine’s body.

//Scoring
DAGON | Sirocco | Syrah | 2020
variety: syrah
country: Romania | Muntenia
region: Dealu Mare | Valea Nucetului
rating: 93.4
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This is definitely a fine wine of Romania and, with a total of 93.4 points scored, this wine is right there, among the best wines we’ve rated so far. Check our complete database on the wine rating page, where you can find all the wines that we have tasted and reviewed or go to the about us page and find out more about our exquisite rating system.

Pairing: Due to this wine unique leathery-savory profile, balanced by juicy wild berry fruits and lively acidity, it would be best suited for a dish with contrasting flavors and textures, like for example venison backstrap with flathead cherry sauce. The richness of the venison would complement lovely the wine’s ample mouthfeel, while the sweetness and tartness of the cherry sauce would add to the wild berry fruit character of the wine, countering those pronounced leathery and savory notes. In the same key, the earthiness of the venison would echo the earthy hints in the wine. This pairing would allow the wine’s intriguing savory character to shine through, while the richness of the venison and the cherry sauce would create a well-rounded and balanced wine tasting experience. Cheers!

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