This past week included Languedoc Day and the 2012 Tour will traverse this French wine region once again. France and Languedoc provided the inspiration for this week's Lucha Vino matchup. A Washington Syrah takes on a Syrah from Languedoc Roussillon
2007 Guilhem-Durand Syrah ViellesVignes Les Genets v. 2007 Vin Du Lac Barrel Select Syrah
Tale of the Tape
100% Syrah from the Languedoc Roussillon region in France. Information is spotty, at best, on this mysterious Luchador.
Purchased from Garagiste for $9.86.
95% Syrah and 5% Petite Sirah from the Columbia Valley AVA sourced from the following vineyards:
Weinbau Vineyard – Wahluke Slope
Windy Ridge Vineyard – HorseHeaven Hills
Upland Vineyards – Snipes Mtn
Fallon Vineyard – Lake Chelan
Aged for 11 months in 1/3 new French and American Oak Barrels.
Purchased from the winery for $22.99
Round 1. First Opening
Le Genets came out firing with a nose of smoked meat, pepper and dark fruit. The palate was equally bold with notes of dark fruit and pepper with a slightly dry finish.
Vin du Lac was not phased by the French Challenger kicking sand all over Le Genets with a nose of smoke, pepper, dark fruit and hints of cocoa. The palate is big and bruising with dark fruit and buttery toffee notes that linger on into a smokey finish.
Vin du Lac takes the opening round after trading some serious body slams with Le Genets, finishing up with a figure 4 leg bar on the French Challenger.
Round 2. One hour after Opening
Le Genets will not be intimidated stepping into the ring with a nose showing smoke fueled notes of soy, menthol and dark red fruit. The palate has plenty of dark fruit, pepper, smoke and cedar spices that lead to a finish that has smoothed out featuring bold ripe fruit.
Vin du Lac is feeling bold showing a nose of pepper and smokey dark fruit with a bit of buttery character lingering in the background. The palate has more notes of buttered popcorn and dark peppery fruit trailing off with a smooth finish dominated by notes of salt-n-pepper.
Once again Vin du Lac is putting the hurt on Le Genets taking round 2 leaving Genets in a spot of bother.
Round 3. One day later
Can somebody put out a missing Luchador report? Le Genets was harder to find than a French Tour de France winner.. The nose has dissipated to minimal hints of cedar and pepper. Likewise, the palate has turned unusually sweet with notes of plum and blackberry that persist all the way through the finish.
Vin du Lac takes full advantage of Le Genets weakness finishing the French challenger with a flying suplex off the top ropes. Vin du Lac is maintaining its strength with a nose of rich dark fruit and dusty cedar spices with a bit of barnyard funk. The palate is full of currant, clove and pepper with a toffee & cinnamon spiced finish.
Down goes Le Genets losing 3 to 0. As the score reflects, this match was extremely one-sided in favor of our Washington State Luchador.
Wrap up and over all observations
This match was pretty lopsided. The Syrah from Languedoc was best in the first couple of hours. It lost most of its character on day two. The Vin du Lac from Washington maintained its character throughout the bout showing some solid Washington Syrah character.
I give the Guilhem-Durand Syrah Vielles Vignes Les Genets an 85 and the Vin du Lac Barrel Select Syrah an 88.
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