Stratus Syrah 2009

Another collaboration wine between Hobbs and Groux. This is a difficult varietal in Niagara in the best of vintages but Stratus crops to less than a tonne an acre and made only a paltry 72 cases from the '09 vintage. It's a Rhone-style Syrah with a smoky, bacon-fat and peppery nose bolstered by raspberry and other red fruits, earth and forest floor notes. It is rousing on the palate with firm tannins, structure, spice and firm acidity through the finish. Drink or hold. Score - 90. (Rick VanSickle, winesinniagara.com, April 25, 2012)