Borsao Zarihs Syrah 2016

Here the cooperative Borsao has been making insanely good wine for the price since the late 1980s when Spanish wine pioneer Jorge Ordonez started yielding his influence in the area and getting the wines select placements in the Boston Metro.

The international rise since has been meteoric while the prices have remained relatively pedestrian. However today’s Borsao Zarihs Syrah 2016 ups the quality level beyond anything I’ve tasted from them in the last 30 years.

The vineyards are ideally situated for perfect Syrah. Sitting between 350 and 600 meters of elevation (just a stone’s throw higher than Cote Rotie), the steep vineyards are inundated with sunshine. But, the Cierzo – a persistent cooling wind from the Northwest – keeps the the vines nice and cool allowing for extended hangtimes and super steady temps.

The secret though is in the soil. Like many of the top Syrahs in the world – limestone imparts acidity and cut into a wine that might otherwise be overwhelming. The result is one you just have to taste.