The 2010 Alange Syrah is sourced from Estate vineyards located in the Ribera del Guadiana DO of Southwest Spain, about an hour from the Portuguese border. The Ribera del Guadiana region is very hot in the summer with low amounts of rain (just like Chicago this year), causing the grapes to be harvested a full month before harvest in the rest of Spain. The Alange Syrah is a young wine and is not aged in oak barrels, it is not really aged, it is bottled as soon as the fermentation process is complete. This is the wine people from this region drink everyday, nothing fancy just a good, solid bottle of wine that pairs well with the local cuisine. I found this wine selling for $4.99 at a local wineshop. The alcohol content is 13.5%.
The color is black cherry red with strawberry highlights. The nose is old school Spanish wine, earthy and herbal mixed with plums and cherries, not your usual modern Syrah/Shiraz nose. Young wines are normally fresh and juicy, light and breezy wines, not the Alange Syrah. It starts with intense black and blueberries, dark black licorice with a cup of hot tea. The mid palate brings stewed prune and peppery spice. The tannins are light and the acidity is balanced, the finish is reasonably long for a $5 wine.
The 2010 Alange Syrah is an interesting wine, probably more interesting than tasty. This is a bottle that will need burgers or ribs cooked on the grill to find its balance. The Alange reminds me of the wines coming out of Spain 5 or 6 years ago, before they started producing wine especially for the American market. Five bucks is easy entry into the wines of Ribera del Guadiana.
