WTN: `03 Burrowing Owl Syrah, VQA Okanagan Valley BC.

There have been varying reports that standards have slipped recently at BO and I thought it time to open this nice gift from Mishy of Vancouver fame!

14% alc, nice natural cork, opened but not decanted. Shared with the wine store staff (DeVines) as well as the serving girls at the Grill. Wine was consummed over a period of 36 hrs.

Color. Black, what can one say! Deep crimson rim but thin.

Nose. On opening I found blackberry, earth, white pepper, spice and a medicinal tone which others noted. Found some meaty quality/sweet fruit on Day 2, but no real developement otherwise.

Palate. Initial entry thoughts were tannic, oak, harsh, quite unsupple. I was not alone with these thoughts either.
Black pepper and some blackcurrant noted by others..."has an almost medicinal quality on the finish". It did not get any better overnight but day later some chocolate and plum. Still a significant role played by the oak here, big miss folks.

[Jenise]

There have been varying reports that standards have slipped recently at BO and I thought it time to open this nice gift from Mishy of Vancouver fame!

14% alc, nice natural cork, opened but not decanted. Shared with the wine store staff (DeVines) as well as the serving girls at the Grill. Wine was consummed over a period of 36 hrs.

Color. Black, what can one say! Deep crimson rim but thin.

Nose. On opening I found blackberry, earth, white pepper, spice and a medicinal tone which others noted. Found some meaty quality/sweet fruit on Day 2, but no real developement otherwise.

Palate. Initial entry thoughts were tannic, oak, harsh, quite unsupple. I was not alone with these thoughts either.
Black pepper and some blackcurrant noted by others..."has an almost medicinal quality on the finish". It did not get any better overnight but day later some chocolate and plum. Still a significant role played by the oak here, big miss folks.

I believe the 03 was the last vintage made by Bill Dyer (subsequent vintages have been made by the owner's son), and it was a very warm vintage which produced riper, more generous wines. Basically, what I'm trying to say is that 03 would not be an example of B.O.'s current quality slip problem. In fact, I believe the 03 got Red Wine of the Year in some local competition where the winemakers vote on each other's wines. If I'm not correct, then the 02 did, and they were very similar wines. Very very good, though yes they're not shy on their oak. Your bottle sounds tight, not bad. I wonder what it would have been like if you could have left it for a 3rd day.

I'm another of the opinion that this winery has made a major downturn. The syrah never really impressed me, even when Dyer was there.

[Jenise]

Bob, I have to correct what I said earlier: thinking it through, I'll bet it was the Cab Franc, not the Syrah, that won that award I mentioned.